Penan community listens attentively to a speech.
Dennis (right) with smartly-attired headman Freddy Laing.
MARUDI: The Borneo Post stumbled on a well-managed 52-door Penan longhouse in the Patah Abang Region with proper walls and blue spandex roofing.
Long Lilim has a Village and Security Development Committee (JKKK) that assists the longhouse chief or headman.
The Penans of Long Lilim are familiar with padi planting for extra income besides the traditional hunting activity.
Newly appointed longhouse chief, Tuai Kampung Freddy Laing, 48, a former pastor of SIB Church, replaces elder brother Ngock Laing.
Freddy said: “We want to be like other ethnic groups namely the Ibans, Kayans and Kenyahs that have accepted development. But improvement comes slowly for Penans as most of them still listen to the lies of irresponsible persons. I plan to bring them forward like the others.
“We have a new longhouse and new SIB Church building sponsored by Syarikat Samling that has operated their business in our area. Our church has been provided with two air-conditioners with electricity provided by our own generators,” he said, thanking Syarikat Samling for its contribution.
A view of new Long Lilim longhouse.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau advised them to plant veggies and other forms of farming to sell to nearby timber camp workers.
Dennis announced a RM5,000 MRP grant to SIB Church of Long Lilim and another RM5,000 to the Patah Abang SIB District Centre. He wants to see more Penan longhouses follow the fine management example of TK Freddy Laing, whose wife is an Iban from Limbang.