(Seated, from fifth left) Anyi, Dennis, members of the San area development action committee and guests pose after the launching of the committee recently.
MIRI: The formation of the San area development action committee is timely and a step forward in the quest to bring both physical and economic development to the people of San.
According to Baram MP Anyi Ngau, the setting up of the committee complements the development strategy for the area, adding it would not be easy for it to move on its own.
“But if all the longhouses get together like this and you all move with one heart and mind, I believe we can achieve more,” he said.
Anyi was speaking at the launching of the development committee last Saturday at Telang Usan District Office in Long Lama which was attended by residents of more than 10 longhouses from the San area stretching from Long Tap up to Long Palai.
He advised the elected committee headed by Penghulu Anthony Kule to take the responsibility seriously by working and discharging their tasks honestly without expecting anything in return.
“I suggest the committee to quickly sit down and make short, medium and long term plans to be discussed with the ‘wakil rakyat’ and further bring it up to the relevant authority. It is ok to put up proposals but leave it to the authority to decide what is best for the rakyat, but we must do something and prioritise our plan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau who attended the launching cautioned the committee to be prepared for any unfavourable response from individuals within the community with personal motives and those who resist change.
He gave assurance that Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg will continue and even increase the efforts to develop rural Sarawak started by the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
“Our Chief Minister is committed to seeing rural Sarawak developed and the formation of the area development committee is timely and should be a platform to put forward the people’s needs to the government,” he said.
He hoped the people of San, totalling approximately 10,000, will see the benefits of forming the committee.
With the government not proceeding with the Baram hydro project, he said the people of San should go back to the drawing board and think of ways to attract the younger generation to go back to their villages.
“What I see happening today worries me as only the senior citizens are staying back in the longhouses and what will happen if we have no one left at the villages?” he asked, sharing his fear that without major development the longhouses would slowly be deserted and become ghost villages.
Dennis encouraged members of the committee to think big and not meddle with longhouse affairs but leave them to the headmen and village committees.
Earlier, Anyi granted a Minor Rural Project (MRP) grant of RM20,000 for the committee.
Lucas Kalang, the deputy chairman of the committee who also spoke, said among the objectives of the committee were to liaise with the government, unite the people of San area and be the voice of the people, work closely with all village headmen and develop San area.
Others present at the launching were Telang Usan district officer Baru Tai and headmen from 10 longhouses.