Cooperate to enable devt to come in, Penan told

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OVER TO YOU: Dennis (sixth right) hands over house building tools and rations to headman Jeffery Muyong at Ba’ Puak, witnessed by representatives from Petronas.

BARAM: Penans in the interior of Baram were advised by Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau to cooperate with government and private sector so development could be planned for them.

Dennis was speaking at a gathering at Ba’ Balau during Petronas’ corporate social responsibility project for the settlement in the interior of Baram.

“Think carefully and don’t blindly oppose programmes or activities initiated by either the government or private company,” he said.

They should discuss among themselves and with the village development and security committee upon being told of impending development programmes in their areas if they had doubts or were unclear about them.

Dennis said they could approach the project implementer for clarification and that the government was ever willing to listen to them.

“Confrontation would not solve anything,” he added.

On the other hand, he advised the community to initiate its own development activities to compliment the effort of the government or private sector.

Dennis told the community they were still left far behind in every aspect due to quite a number of school dropouts.

He therefore advised the younger generation to at least pursue education to Form 5 or 6 in order to get better jobs.

There are around 30 Penan graduates.

The assemblyman advised young Penans to acquire technical skills and skills training needed in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Similar CSR projects were extended to other Penan settlements namely Long Liwok, Ba’ Puak and Long Seliang in the interior of Baram.

Petronas is helping them with building materials and tools for repairing their houses and daily activities including rations and beddings. It is also helping the community level the ground for building houses and church.

Also present was the Orang Ulu paramount chief Temenggung Pahang Ding.