Newly-completed cement road set to ease life of Long Kawi residents
LONG KAWI, Baram: Walking on the muddy and slippery road will be a thing of the past for the Penan community in Long Kawi with the recent completion of a cement road in the settlement which is located in the interior of Baram.
The project was made possible with government grants and work carried out by the villagers on a ‘gotong-royong’ basis.
The road linking the longhouses was officially declared opened by Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau recently.
Accompanying Dennis during his working visit to the settlement were Penan paramount chief Temenggong Datuk Hasan Sui and state administrative officer Ezra Uda who is also the district officer.
“Before, we were worried to walk along the road especially during rainy season. The dirt road would become muddy and slippery and some parts of the uneven road surface with holes would be filled with water,” Long Kawi Penan community leader Slatuh Lawai said, highlighting the dangerous conditions which had greatly concerned the residents.
“Our shoes and feet including our clothing, especially ‘sarong’ and trousers, would be soiled by the mud. We also could end up with sprains and broken bones if we fall down due to the slippery surface and ours shoes or slippers having poor grip on the road surface.
“The dry and hot season presented another problem as the (old) road became very dusty and the conditions could be hazardous especially for those with respiratory problems,” Slatuh said.
As the villagers had no means of constructing a good road, he wrote a letter requesting assistance to their assemblyman.
Dennis approved a grant under the Minor Rural Project ( MRP) fund and the work was subsequently carried out on a ‘gotong-royong’ basis.
Slatuh thanked the government, especially Dennis, for their prompt response to the community’s request and pledged to work closely with them.
Meanwhile, Dennis reminded the villagers not to make enemies of companies operating in their area or near them.
“Befriend them and don’t create any problem with them, their machineries and workers. Their presence and operation in your area are part of the government’s policy and strategy to help the people in the interior.
“During their operations here, they built infrastructures such as roads (timber tracks) for their operation and convenience. These roads also benefit the local community where you can also use them. They don’t stop you from using the roads,” he pointed out.
Most villages, settlement areas and longhouses in the interior of Baram are linked through timber tracks built by companies operating in their respective areas.
Dennis highlighted that travelling to Marudi and Miri is now fast and easy compare to the past when it took days to travel by boat and longer if walking through the jungle.
In the event whereby a company ceases operation in an area, the government would take over and maintain the road for the convenience of the local community, he added.
“You can also approach these companies for assistance and help such as sending their workers and machineries to level the ground to build new longhouses or other big projects. You can also ask them to help in transportation to ferry your children when school opens and during holidays, (as well as help with) transportation to Miri and Marudi during emergencies,” he said.
The assemblyman also assured the villagers that the companies will give help and assistance as part of their corporate social responsibility ( CSR) including assisting them during festivals or special occasions celebrated by local communities in the area of their operations.
“Therefore, do not be suspicious and create trouble when they enter near and around your area. They don’t just bulldoze and open up the area. They have been given the licence or consensus to operate in the area from the government,” he said, adding that the companies’ presence also helped to bring jobs to the local community.
In this context, Dennis reminded the Penan community in Long Kawi and the whole of Baram not to be made use of by non- government organisations ( NGOs) and the opposition who made big promises but had no capabilities, abilities and means to fulfil them.
He pointed out that change was taking place in rural and remote areas in Baram and across the whole state.
However, in Baram, the changes could not be seen and felt by the people yet due to the geography and topography of the area with villages and settlements scattered all over.
“Be patient and continue to stay with the government. Changes might be slow but one day it will eventually come and you will be able to feel and see it with your own eyes,” Dennis assured the community.