At times, these trips involve a mobile clinic, where a medically certified Rotarian will treat wounds and give Paracetamol to those with minor sickness.
MIRI: Members of Rotary Club of Bandar Seri Begawan (RCBSB) have been quietly helping the Penans who live in the deep interior of Sarawak.
They often braved dusty, muddy and dangerous journeys just to bring water to the Penans.
These Rotarians chose to keep a low profile for their work in the interior of Baram and Limbang, but The Borneo Post managed to get hold of vice-president Jeff Yong and Sergeant-at-arm George Ding to get them to share their experiences.
“It all started when we did a sanitary and water project in Long Sulong, near Limbang, for the natives. We installed a water piping system to the settlement. We also managed to complete it with toilets to improve the natives’ daily hygienic practice,” said Yong.
With the experience and participation of many friends of the club, they extended their services to many more areas in the interior of Miri Division, and these projects later became a significant trademark of RCBSB.
“For instance, we have made several trips to Ba Abang and Ba Taha, with every trip taking some 10 hours’ drive from Miri city through logging trails. These trips are compared to others dangerous due to the treacherous terrains and heavy traffic.
“Besides posing a big challenge in terms of engineering and logistics, transporting heavy water pipes was also expensive.”
The most ideal water source is spring water from the mountain.
The most difficult one was at Ba Abang, where they installed a 2,000m-long piping system over undulating terrain.
Before commencing a project, site visits are compulsory to identify the water source.
“The most ideal source would be spring water from the mountain, as this source is usually unpolluted and there is endless water supply. Moreover, thanks to our engineering profession, the necessary knowledge makes the work on checking the dam, identifying the type of water pipes, and gathering the necessary joints to bring water to the people easier.”
Though the journeys they had embarked on were life-threatening at times, Ding said their initiatives had benefitted villages like Long Seridan, Ba Abang, Ba Bareh and Ba Taha.
It had also taught those involved in the project to better appreciate nature and the things many took for granted due to the fast-paced urban lives.
Ding said their projects usually came complete with powdered milk, books and stationery for the kids and tooth brushes and tooth paste for older residents.
“The smiles on their faces are simply heartwarming. Our interactions with the Penans are kept unbelievably close to our hearts,” said Ding.
The project at Ba Abang was very challenging as it involved installing a 2,000m-long water piping system over undulating terrain.
Apart from water projects, the Rotarians also spent their time teaching the Penans the importance of hygiene and gave them tools to feed themselves.
“Rotary Club is not a charity club. We are a service club that do hands on projects to help improve the lives of less fortunate people. We truly believe in teaching people to fish rather than give them the fish.
“Logging activities and environmental pollution are reducing natural food supply, forcing residents to seek ready-made options.
“Therefore, every time we went to a settlement, we also brought with us fruit and vegetable seeds for them to plant. This way, they could enjoy healthier food and even sell the extras for some income.”
However, Ding felt the problems faced by the Penans were just the tip of the iceberg.
“Education and health are two of the most important aspects that the Penans need in order to improve their lives. Education can help them break free from poverty, while better health service could prolong their life expectancy.
“Undeniable, the Sarawak government had done a lot to help these interior people, like setting up boarding schools.
“But from our experience in the interior, Borneo is simply too vast. It is almost impossible for the authority to reach all of them. More fundings and more efforts are needed to make sure every corner of the State is covered.”
Apart from Sarawak, Rotary Club of Bandar Seri Begawan would join force with other Rotary Clubs in Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar to support local sanitation and water projects to improve the lives of poor families.
The water projects in Ba’ Abang and Ba Taha were challenging in terms of engineering, logistics and cost.
The Rotarians often bring along water filters, powdered milk, books, stationery, tooth brushes, and tooth paste for the kids and adults.