More people migrating from Baram, says census

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MIRI: A recent national census showed a drastic drop in the population of Baram.

Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau Jok who revealed this said intervention was needed to stop it from dropping further.

He disclosed to The Borneo Post that the drop was from 80,000 to 20,000 in the last decade from natural causes such as deaths among the older group and rural-urban migration.

The figure might drop further, turning it into a ‘ghost town’, Dennis said.

“The rural-urban migration is unavoidable due to a decline in logging activities, and nothing awaits them upon completion of their studies,” he added.

Dennis said the situation forced them to venture out of Baram in search of jobs and business opportunities in towns in other divisions of the state and country.

“The situation calls for intervention to retain or call back the younger generation and those educated among the community to revive the almost dying area.

“The government is aware of the situation and is planning to bring back life to the Baram,” said Dennis.

The proposed Bandar Baru Telang Usan between Long Julang and Long Apoh is one of the plans. Dennis said the new town complete with facilities and amenities will be created around a man-made lake.

The people can capitalise on their culture and nature to generate income and job opportunities to lure back those migrated to urban areas.

Rich in potential for the eco-tourism industry, the proposed new township will improve the quality of life for the people in Baram, Dennis added.

“However, it depends on the support, cooperation and decision made by the people of Baram themselves,” Dennis said, assuring that the government had the people in mind in every development plan.

Baram is poised to be a producer of renewable energy with the proposed Baram Dam to bring socio-economic development and change to Baram and its people.

However, many people are reacting negatively to the proposed project after being instigated by the opposition and non-governmental organisations with their own agenda.

In this context, Dennis reminded the people to accept the government’s development plan and project that would benefit them and their future generation.