Longhouse folk live in fear of landslides

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LAWAS: The illegal logging of forests covering a nearby hill is causing residents of the only Iban longhouse at Maragang, Lawas sleepless nights as they fear it would cause landslides on rainy days.

DANGER: The landslide at Bukit Maragang near Rumah Ajan longhouse.

DANGER: The landslide at Bukit Maragang near Rumah Ajan longhouse.

The mud and debris are also polluting their source of drinking water from the mountains.

Longhouse chief Ajan Renang therefore calls upon the authorities to act to stop the illegal logging in the area which started last year.
“We are appealing to the State Forestry Department to monitor such illegal activities which have become more aggressive recently,” he said.

Ajan said the illegal loggers encroached into the area, and remove valuable logs from the hills above the longhouse, causing the landslides.

The longhouse chief feared that the health of his subjects would be jeopardised if the situation continues.

“They could not sleep soundly at night for fear of landslides, and we want the authorities to take a serious view of our predicament before it worsened,” he said.

Lawas District Officer Mohd Supaih Hamdan in his working visit there advised them to lodge an official report with the relevant authorities for action to be taken.