Attendees pose for a group photo with Dennis (centre, back row) and other community leaders and invited guests.
MIRI: The Sarawak government will repair the wooden bridge at Uma Bawang, a Kayan longhouse deep in the interior of Baram, which was built some 30 years ago and has worn out, assured Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau.
He was responding to the concern raised by a village chief, Pius Lihan Ding, who highlighted it in his speech during the Uma Bawang Baram Family Day at Indin Resort in Luak Bay here recently.
“The repair of the wooden bridge at Uma Bawang, connecting the longhouse block with the village school, the Borneo Evangelical Mission and Roman Catholic churches, and to the longhouse boat jetties at the Baram river bank has been included in my Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) projects list for this year.
Dennis attempts to shoot a balloon using a blowpipe to mark the launch of the programme.
“It will involve an estimated cost of RM120,000 and will be implemented by the Public Works Department this year,” Dennis told the villagers and guests when officiating at the programme.
While commending residents of Uma Bawang, comprising two separate longhouses with two different village chiefs, for coming together as one community, Dennis told them to continue to uphold and practise the spirit of friendship and teamwork despite differences in political affiliation.
“Other villages should emulate Uma Bawang in terms of coming together to do positive things for the community.
“If we choose to look at positive things in life, we would be able to spend our life doing things beneficial to us, our family and longhouse. When a longhouse community is in conflict it can only bring backwardness to themselves. We have that happening among the various longhouses,” Dennis reminded.
He also mentioned about efforts taken by the Sarawak government to bring development to Telang Usan including Uma Bawang, where a solar-powered system has been built and basic facilities and amenities are provided to bring better comfort to kampung folks, as well as other developments under the Highland Development Agency (HDA) including opening up economic opportunities costing millions of ringgit.
On his part, Dennis said he would continue to do his best to assist the villagers to improve their lives but they must choose to stay united for all these to become reality.
He also advised the well-to-do members of the Uma Bawang community to give back in any possible way to their society.
On the Family Day programme, Dennis lauded the Uma Bawang Youth Association for successfully bringing together the community of Uma Bawang, especially all the Kayan top community leaders in Baram including himself.
“We must strive to uphold and preserve our customs, traditions and cultural practices while enjoying modern day living environment as these are the essence of shaping who we are today and who we are likely to become in the future.
“The practice of respecting the elders as well as helping and doing things together as one big family are highly valued and should not fade over time. It will be to your benefit if you continue to respect your elders especially community leaders,” he added.
At the event, Dennis announced an allocation of RM10,000 to Uma Bawang Youth Association for their future activities.
Meanwhile, organising chairman Patrick Wan said more than 400 residents of the 82-door Uma Bawang Baram attended the biannual Family Day, some of them coming from as far as Kuching, Bintulu, Miri and other parts of Sarawak where they work and have settled in.
“This Family Day aims to allow residents of Uma Bawang, especially the younger generation, to get to know their relatives as well as their community leaders and strengthen relationships with one another,” he added.
Among the activities lined up during the Family Day themed ‘Pegem Piah Peju’ (Moving Forward Together) were tug-of-war and other folk games.
Also present at the Family Day were another village chief Anyie Ibau, Kayan paramount chief Temenggong Elizabeth Deng, Pemanca Gilbert Ding, Penghulu Mering Ibau, Penghulu Ajeng Wan, PBB Telang Usan youth chief Cr Dominic Nyurang Ajeng, the association’s advisor Francis Nyurang Ding and Cr Jau Eng Aran.