Abang Johari admiring craft products at Craft Promotion 2014.
KUCHING: The government plans to turn Penans in places like Long Banga and Long Kevok in Baram into bamboo planters to improve their livelihood.
Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg said the global demand for bamboo was increasing, and the Penans happened to be familiar with wild plants.
“The demand for bamboo-made products is increasing. In the food industry, the number of Japanese restaurants is growing, and these are the places that use bamboo chopsticks.
“That is why the government plans to plant bamboo in Penan areas to help the Penans live better lives,” he said, adding that other communities would be encouraged to plant bamboo as well.
Speaking to reporters before launching Craft Promotion 2014 at Kuching Waterfront yesterday, Abang Johari said the focus for now would be on those Penans who had settled down.
“We will educate them on the products that are made of bamboo to show them the demand for bamboo.”
He noted that the Penans of today were different from those of 20 years ago. Many Penans are now more educated, and some of them have abandoned their nomadic lifestyle.
“The government will identify and develop the areas for the industry, but the community will use their talents and knowledge to plant and manage the bamboos.
“Among some of the Penan settlements that we have identified for bamboo planting are Long Banga and Long Kevok in Baram.”