Dennis points at the signboard for the office where he claimed no Orang Ulu community leader was available.
MIRI: Orang Ulu community leaders stationed at the community leaders’ office here have been chided for being unavailable over the last two days.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Baram secretary Dennis Along claimed only Iban, Chinese and Malay community leaders were present at the office.
“There was not even one Orang Ulu community leader stationed at the community leaders’ office the last two days when I went to get their reference,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Dennis claimed he first went to the office on Monday afternoon but failed to find an Orang Ulu community leader, so tried again at 8.30am yesterday.
“I waited until 10.45am and still no one came and other Orang Ulu community members were also there to seek their signatures and other issues,” he claimed.
According to Dennis, there should always be an Orang Ulu community leader at the office as there are many from the community living here.
He called on the leaders to be present on a rotation basis so that the people would not be left without the assistance required.
Dennis pointed out that community leaders should be available from 8am to at least 4pm as they receive a salary from the government.
“We are very sad to see this kind of environment and lack of mindset by the community leaders who are entrusted to serve the people but nowhere to be found,” he added.
“I hope the relevant government agency can take note of the issue.”
When contacted, Temengong Elizabeth Ding said it was not true the office was always closed as there is a schedule in place.
“We also have an Orang Ulu community leader office in Long Lama for the district there but Baram is a huge area and it is not easy for just one community leader to be stationed there although it is much easier for me as I am from Long Laput, a stone’s throw away,” she said.
Meanwhile, Iban community leader Pemanca Wilson Siang Lim said the community leaders at Miri District Office have helped members of the Orang Ulu community with certain administration matters.
He said longhouse chiefs have been roped in to assist community leaders in tending to the needs of Miri District.
“A timetable was drawn up to divide duties among us in serving the Iban community here,” he said.