(From fourth left) Rosey, Alexander and Ahmad Lai and others during the Jom Berambeh at Kampung Kuala Bakam.
MIRI: The fishing community living along the coast must take steps to ensure that their houses and family are safe from fire and not go to sea when it is rough.
In giving this advice, Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus said the villagers must follow guidelines on the use of electricity and ensure that their cooking utensils are not left unattended.
She also told them to wear life jackets if they needed to go out to sea.
“Leaving cooking utensils in the kitchen unattended is one of the factors that cause fire and going out to sea during bad weather can cause untoward incidents to happen at sea,” Rosey reminded at the Jom Berambeh organised by Miri Melanau Association (PMM) at Kampung Kuala Baram yesterday.
The event was attended by Sibuti MP Ahmad Lai Bujang, Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat, PMM president Datuk Alexander Mayor, political secretary to the Chief Minister Sarkawi Suhaili and Miri district officer Abdul Aziz Yusuf.
She said that there were many reports of fire cases due to negligence of house owners who left their cooking unattended and accidents at sea even when the Metrological Department had announced that small boats must not go out to sea during bad weather.
“Villagers must be safety conscious and not let their children play with matches or fire,” she advised further.
Earlier, she urged the Melanau community to preserve their traditional food including their tele-matches which they inherited from their forefathers and pass them down to their younger generation so that they know their roots and identity.
At the same time, she said the culture and games of the Melanau could be made into tourism products.
“Activities such as get-together are important to ensure the community is united and can work together for their own betterment,” she advised.
All the guests at the gathering were treated to Melanau food, including their speciality ‘Umai’.