Unofficial longhouse chiefs appeal for recognition by state government
SIBU: ‘Kelab Tuai Rumah Dipilih Rakyat Ngemah’, comprising longhouse chiefs elected by residents of their longhouses, is appealing to the Sarawak government to allow the establishment of Village Community Management Council (MPKK) in the state.
The club chairman Lembat Atau said MPKK would be solution if the state government is unable to find a solution for longhouse chiefs who are still without their official appointment letters.
“We also appeal to the state government to give us the answer on our status. If our service is not needed, then we are ready to step down immediately.
“At the same time we want the state government to be compassionate towards our longhouse residents by giving the same amount of development as Village Security and Development Committees (JKKKs) recognised by the government,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Lembat said this was among the issues discussed during the club’s meeting held recently which was attended by 25 longhouse chiefs who are still without their official appointment letters in Ngemah area.
He said the longhouse chiefs representing 288 doors and about 1,600 longhouse residents.
They also discussed a new regulation to set up JKKK and change of longhouse chief.
The club secretary Brian Langit said the new regulation makes it difficult to register their JKKK as well as to open a bank account because they needed verification from the District Office.
“Since we do not have our official appointment letters, automatically bank won’t allow us to open an account for our JKKK.
“This is another difficulty we have to face particularly when we receive minor rural project grants or disaster relief aid or other assistance from the government,” he said.