Long Leng folk dispel myth about Penans refusing progress

Dennis (seated, centre), with KK Master on his right, joins the womenfolk of Long Leng for a group photo.

MARUDI: The Long Leng community is living proof of modern-day Penans who strive to move alongside progress, instead of still hanging on to their semi-nomadic and anti-development ways as claimed by several non-governmental organisations.

The 40-door longhouse, which is about a six-hour drive on board a four-wheel drive vehicle from Miri city, has all the basic necessities such as water and electricity supply, connectivity, its own development and security committee (JKKK), a pre-school run by the state Community Development Department (Kemas) and a church.

Beyond that, however, the people themselves are a unified lot under the leadership of Ketua Kaum Master Lolee, noted Dennis Ngau who is the incumbent for Telang Usan state constituency.

“I read a book by the so-called indigenous people’s rights activist Bruno Manser, who claimed that the Penans had always wanted to retain their semi-nomadic way of life and detested any development.

“The community here (in Long Leng) is a far cry from such allegation. They want to move and be just as progressive as other communities.

“It is not an overstatement to say that Long Leng is by far the best ‘Rumah Penan’ (Penan longhouse) in all of Sarawak,” he said when met after a ‘gotong-royong’ on Saturday, organised by Long Leng JKKK.

Dennis was also impressed by the longhouse community members who had been adhering to their motto ‘Long Leng Bergerak Maju’ (Long Leng – Moving Alongside Progress).

“I could not have coined a better slogan myself. All this can be attributed to the able leadership of KK Master, and other longhouse communities across Baram should emulate Long Leng,” he said.

Dennis also called on the community to continue their support for the Barisan Nasional (BN) government which had developed the rural areas.

“Recently, Telang Usan was given an allocation of RM1 million for all 73 churches across the constituency.

“This is just one among many assistance from the government set aside for the rural communities.”

Later, Dennis announced an allocation of RM10,000 for Long Leng JKKK, witnessed by acting Telang Usan District officer Ezra Uda and other local community leaders.

 

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