‘Blue Wave’ sweeps Long Busang

BAKUN: An army of some 150 BN supporters clad in blue BN T-shirts made their presence felt everywhere they went in the remotest parts of Hulu Rajang constituency from July 26-28.

Led by PRS nominated candidate for Hulu Rajang Wilson Ugak Kumbong, the group was made up of mostly PRS members and other component parties from as far as Kapit, Punan Bah, Belaga and Sg Asap.

Among them were three political secretaries to the chief minister; namely Angeline Umis, Tengku Gruna and Wilson Nyabong.

The group made Bakun Dam as their point of  rendezvous before proceeding to their first pit-stop at Naha Jaley, a longhouse of a small Orang Ulu community nestled beautifully on the lake of the Bakun Dam, some two hours by boat-ride from the Bakun jetty.

The journey was very smooth because Ugak had put in tremendous efforts to ensure the safety of people who had volunteered to join him.

“It’s a very difficult exercise especially in terms of logistics to organise such a trip with a large number of people,” Ugak told this scribe who had joined the trip.

The night spent at Naha Jaley was worth every sen as the people there were very friendly and appreciative of the group’s presence.

Village chief Aging Bato said Ugak’s delegation was the biggest group to ever spend the night at his longhouse.

“I can’t express how happy I am to see you here tonight. Welcome to our humble longhouse and I hope you all will appreciate our hospitality.

“And rest assisted that we will support BN in the coming general election,” he said amid a loud shout of appreciation from the BN supporters.

Ugak gave a few fire extinguishers to the village as his personal donation for fire prevention.

A demonstration on how to use them was made by Fire and Rescue Services Department Kapit senior officer Sengiang Usat, while Ugak stressed on the importance of knowing basic fire prevention methods.

On Friday, after breakfast, the group proceeded to Uma Jawe, which is about two hours boat-ride away from Naha Jaley for lunch before continuing their journey to Long Busang which took four hours.

While at Uma Jawe, Ugak spent some time with its village chief Janting Ibau to hear the plight of the people there.

During the discussion, Janting highlighted some of the issues faced by his people and promised that they would support BN and Ugak.

Long Busang is a remote and isolated Kenyah community which has thrived over the years even though it is almost totally cut off from civilisation.

It is a unique village as the people there live in peace and harmony even though 21 out of the 114 families there are Muslims.

And though the majority of the villagers are Christians of SIB denomination, their village chief Yusuf Zawawi, however, is a Muslim.

“We have struck a very deep sense of respect for one another’s religion since 1972 when my father first embraced Islam,” said Yusuf.

Their understanding is so deep that the villagers would assist their relatives be they Muslims or Christians.

“Our faiths do not hinder us from cooperating with each other to further progress our community,” stressed Yusuf.

In the olden days, it would normally take two days to reach Long Busang from Belaga.

But now thanks to the Bakun Dam, the journey has been shortened and is safer as the people need not go through countless number of rapids anymore ever since the dam was impounded on October 13, 2010.

“I joined this trip because it reminds me of my countless trips here in my younger days,” declared Kapitan Teo Hii Tong from Belaga Town.

The night at Long Busang was very memorable as the Kenyah community served the group with their best food and drinks.

Apart from that, the visitors were also entertained to a very enchanting Kenyah cultural dance and music.

But what was most notable was when Yusuf pledged his people’s support for BN as the visitors had impressed the villagers with their sheer number.