LONG LUTENG (Baram): The Penan community has evolved in life like other communities, Telang Usan Assemblyman Dennis Ngau said.
According to him, the Penan themselves might not have realised it but they have evolved like other communities in the country.
The first evolution in the Penan community, Dennis said was when they decided to stop living a nomadic life and started to live a settled life like other communities.
“After your forefathers decided to settle down as a community they started to learn how to farm and grow crops for your needs.
“With a more settled life, the government came in and taught them how to do farming but what really changed you community was when your children started to go to schools like SK Long Bedian and SK Long Bemang.
“Although at that time your (Penan) community did not really understand what education was all about, your children continued to go to school. Later, the government saw the need to build schools
at your villages like in this settlement, Long Luteng,” he said when officiating at the opening of SK Long Luteng annual sport meet, recently.
“After having education your people then find jobs and live in towns and cities like other communities. Some even got married to other communities, a thing unheard of in the past.
“Imagine if you have not evolved we would be seeing your boys running in loin cloth and girls running in sarong and topless.
“But look at today’s sport meet, all your children are running in proper sports attire. This is also development. So if anyone comes and tells your community is not developed or worst claimed you are being sidelined by the government that is not true.
“Now what you need to do is to invest in your children’s education. Try to earn and save money for your children,” he said.
According to Dennis the other communities have also gone through difficulties in life with regards to expenses to get an education.
“But we have no other choices. We must struggle in order for our children to live a better life through education,” he said.
Denis added that education has changed the lives of many people and cited SAO Ezra Uda an administrative officer of Long Bedian sub district as a very good example.
Ezra is a Penan from Long Sait, Ulu Baram who gained his degree from UNIMAS.
Dennis also congratulated the school and PIBG for managing to hold the sport meet.
He also hoped that the school sport meet would develop self confidence and fighting spirit among the students, a powerful ingredient to succeed in today’s developing world, which is lacking in the Penan community.
During the event Dennis also announced an MRP grant of RM20,000 for the school of which RM10,000 is for the extention of the school’s dining hall, RM5,000 for repairing the foundation of a water tank and RM5,000 to fence up the pre-school class room. All the works will be done on a ‘gotong royong’ basis.
Also present at the event were SAO Ezra Uda, Councillor Gary Hassim and more than 150 parents.
SK Long Luteng is six hours’ drive by four wheel-drive vehicle from Miri city.
