11 RSC for Penan community

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Jabu presents a MyKad to a recipient. From left are Dennis, Anyi, Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) CEO Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot and Deputy State Secretary Datu Ose Murang.

Jabu presents a MyKad to a recipient. From left are Dennis, Anyi, Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) CEO Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot and Deputy State Secretary Datu Ose Murang.

MARUDI: There are now 11 Rural Service Centres (RSC) in the Baram District serving mainly the Penan community, with the opening of the latest RSC at Long Jekitan.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang said Long Jekitan

has been equipped with a wide range of facilities including a primary school and rural health centre.

“Forty years ago it was full of thick jungle and with just two or three Penan families but today we can all see the area has been developed,” he said during the RSC’s opening ceremony on Friday.

He said the new RSC could also be used for the Penan to market and display their handicrafts to help improve their standard of living.

“The BN government wants the Penan to develop and improve such as those from Long Bee, Ba Purau, Long Dekan and Jekitan, who will benefit from the meaningful facilities like where there is telephone reception available we could engage in ICT (information communication technology) here like at Long Bruang,” he said.

He called on the Penan community to always support the Barisan Nasional (BN) government and their leaders in Baram — Baram Member

of Parliament Anyi Ngau and Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau.

“So these two Ngaus will be your link between the people and the government. These two will bring fast development to our Baram area,” he said.

Singling out the Penan community in Selunggo, he called on them not to used by foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that want the Penan to oppose the government’s plans and policies.   “We hope that one day they will realise and then they will support the BN government. Because of one or two them this area has been marked as a stronghold for the opposition, being against development,” he said.

Jabu also pledged RM75,000 to improve facilities at RSCs.

The centres serve 59 Penan villages with a population of over 8,600.