Mawan (front right) and his entourage heading towards Rumah Linguh in Nanga Engkeranji, Pakan.
KUCHING: Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan has pledged RM20,000 from his minor rural project (MRP) grant to the longhouse security and development committee (JKKK) of Rumah Limguh in Nanga Engkeranji, Pakan in Sarikei.
The minister, who is also Saratok MP and Pakan assemblyman, went on a 20-minute longboat ride from SK Nanga Entaih, a school at the tail’s end of Entabai Road, to reach the longhouse for the presentation last Friday.
Rumah Limguh has yet to receive 24-hour electricity and treated water supply, despite its location within a potential eco-tourism area. The residents are farmers whose cash crop is pepper.
Longhouse chief Tuai Rumah Linguh Runggah and Penghulu Clement Nissau of Entabai Julau led the welcoming committee to receive Mawan and his entourage.
Mawan, who is also president of Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) and Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU), was presented by the hosts with a ‘Parang Ilang’ – the Iban traditional warrior’s machete – as a token of appreciation.
Mawan also visited Rumah Muking Atok at Batu 13, Jalan Entabai-Pakan where he pledged another RM20,000 to its JKKK.
Earlier, the minister was at Pakan Community Hall to meet more than 50 representatives of organisations, JKKKs and parent-teacher associations (PTAs) to present them with annual government grant totalling RM704,000.
On the next day, Mawan declared open the office of Ji Yuan Shan She (Moral Uplifting Society) in Saratok, witnessed by the locals. There, he also pledged an MRP fund of RM30,000.
On Saturday afternoon, he attended a ‘Leader-Meets-People’ session at Rumah Mambang Kana in Lasi, Julau where he announced RM20,000 in MRP allocation for its JKKK.
On top of that, Mawan pledged another RM20,000 to Pakan Longhouse Chieftains Association – a body that looks after the welfare of all longhouse chieftains in Pakan.
That night, Mawan officiated at a Serakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) Sekuau dinner in Sibu ahead of the Gawai Dayak celebrations next month. He then presented SDNU Sekuau with RM20,000 and SIDS Sekuau, out of the parent body’s coffers.
At the same function, he also presented a MRP fund of RM20,000 to JKKK Sekuau.