Sikie: New longhouses must have safety features
BINTULU: Every new longhouse should have safety features such as a fire breaker where a concrete wall separates each unit of the longhouse, said Assistant Minister of Native Laws and Customs Datuk John Sikie Tayai.
“It may cost more but such safety features would be able to prevent fire from spreading and destroying other units (doors) of the longhouse,” he said at the ‘Ngentak Rumah Tedung Jambu’ ceremony at KM3.5 Jalan Sangan Merit in Tatau on Sunday.
He also said those who wanted to build a new longhouse can obtain a housing loan from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).
According to him, each door can receive a loan of RM30,000.
“The forms can be obtained from Tatau District Office,” he said.
On another matter, the Kakus assemblyman said the road upgrading project connecting Rumah Tedung have been approved and will be implemented soon.
“The project to pave the road cost RM160,000,” he added.
He also announced the ‘Projek Penambahbaikan Rumah Miskin Sarawak’ worth RM2,500 per door which will benefit 29 doors at Rumah Tedung.
Also present at the event were Senator Rita Insol, political secretary to the chief minister Edwin Banta, Tatau District Office assistant administrative officer Long Jok, Penghulu Lubon Kinchang and Penghulu Micheal Agul.