Kigen (standing front, sixth left) and the trainees witness the handover of equipment and paints for the work party by Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau (standing front, fifth left) to Wan Ajang, the treasurer of Long Bemang village security and development committee.
LONG BEMANG, Baram: Geography and topography are the obstacles to full penetration of Internet in the interior of Baram.
This shortcoming was evident when a group of 24 trainees and officers from National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) Miri and Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) Miri Office, who were on their way to Long Bemang, got lost and were unable to locate Telang Usan District Office – despite having the Global Position System (GPS) for navigation.
The group was on a convoy of nine four-wheel-drive vehicles (4WD) to Long Bemang for a volunteer programme under the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS), when their GPS got outwitted by Mother Nature, rendering them unable to locate the district office in Long Lama.
It was only after seeking help and direction from the locals at Long Lama bazaar for the location of Telang Usan District Office, located near the ferry point at the other side of Sungai Apoh, that they were able to continue their journey.
The trainees, led by IKBN Miri Students Affairs assistant director Kigen Satong and Stephanie Wendy Stanford from KBS Miri, were on a two-day IKBN-KBS Voluntary Programme that kicked off on Friday and ended yesterday, in the biggest Orang Ulu settlement in Baram.
“It is an eye-opener for the trainees whom I believe have never been to the interior of Baram.
“After being lost and going through a rough journey along the timber tracks to get to Long Bemang, we learned a valuable lesson and acknowledged the hardship and problems endured by the people in remote pockets such as Baram,” said Kigen.
The incident did not stop the trainees from doing voluntary works – cleaning up and repainting the gate and the inner compound of Long Bemang Borneo Evangelical Church and also the Sunday school, as well as providing free haircut to the longhouse folk.
The outreach programme was aimed at instilling the spirit of voluntarism, leadership and discipline in the trainees who would be the country’s future leaders and manpower.
“The programme also exposed the trainees who come from various racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds, to the customs, tradition, heritage and lifestyle of the Orang Ulu, particularly the Kayans living in Long Bemang. We hope that they would value unity in a multi-racial society like Malaysia,” Kigen added.
During the two-day programme, the trainees opened up a counter to promote and introduce courses available at IKBN Miri to parents and students here.