Penguang (seated centre) poses with other dignitaries and participants of the seminar.
MIRI: Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil urged longhouse residents in Marudi constituency to be more united in their struggle to become a developed and progressive community.
The Marudi assemblyman advised the longhouse folk to avoid any splits and disagreements and to always value unity and harmony as well as to work as a team to overcome any issues that may arise in the spirit of consensus.
“It has always been my wish to see people in my constituency stay united and avoid disunity. This is the most difficult task for me as their elected representative,” Dr Penguang told The Borneo Post when met after officiating at ‘Majlis Penangguhan Seminar Ketua Masyarakat dan Ketua Kaum Kawasan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri N76 Marudi’ at a leading hotel here yesterday.
Dr Penguang noted that there were cases of quarrels among the longhouse folk in his constituency regarding their headmen.
“There is no place in Sarawak where you have two tuai rumah (longhouse headman) in one longhouse other than in Marudi constituency. Thus, it is my responsibility to sort this out through election of tuai rumah by the people themselves.
“The people play a vital role in deciding and choosing who they want to appoint as their leaders. I also reminded them that once they have been appointed as community leaders, by virtue of their appointment, they are government servants and therefore they must serve the government well,” he said.
At the event, a total of 44 community leaders received new and extended appointment certificates.
“This seminar, the first of its kind, is meant for community leaders and councillors for N76 Marudi. I have taken this initiative to call for this seminar because I saw that the most difficult challenge here is to unite these people. I hope with this appointment and the seminar today, they can fully understand the requirement to be a community leader and its roles and functions as a bridge between the people and the government,” said Dr Penguang.
Several talks and briefings were held during the seminar, including community leaders’ service scheme conducted by Deputy Miri Resident Nyurak Keti, roles of community leaders by Marudi district officer Mackos Sibong, fire safety management in longhouses and villages by the Fire and Rescue Department and customary marriage by Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak.
Pemanca Enggah Nuga, Miri Resident Sherina Hussaini, Beluru district officer Mohd Rashdan Hazemi, Marudi District Council chairman Edward Mendai and community leaders from over 100 longhouses in Marudi constituency were among those present.