BELAGA: A family from the peninsula is having an experience of their life staying in a longhouse at the Bakun Resettlement Scheme in Sungai Asap here.
“There are many interesting things we can learn in Sarawak, their culture, the way of life of the people from various ethnics and of their high tolerance for other people from other religion and culture,” said Muhammad Izwan Abdul Rashid, 32, a civil servant who is from Batu Kurau, Perak.
Muhammad Izwan, his wife Shahirah Ismail, 32, from Padang Serai, Kulim, Kedah, and their four-year-old son, Muhammad Ammar Wafi, are among the occupants of the 15-door longhouse of the Kayan community at Block G, Uma Daro.
Uma Daro, a settlement for the Orang Ulu community, has eight blocks of longhouses, comprising 113 doors or units and located about 150 kilometres from Bintulu.
Muhammad Izwan, who is with the Labour office in Bakun, said he “fell in love” and decided to live in a longhouse after about five months of being posted to Sungai Asap in 2013.
“After I got married in August 2013, my wife came to join me. Prior to that, I had told her that she would be staying with me in a longhouse as I wanted to rent a longhouse, and that if she couldn’t get use to it (living in a longhouse), she could return to the peninsula.
“But, until now, we are able to adapt our live here and it has been more than five years,” he added.
According to Muhammad Izwan, he and his wife, who runs an online business, are the only Muslim couple at the block, and the family is among two families from the peninsula staying at the longhouse there.
The other family occupies one of the units at another block of the longhouse at Uma Daro.
Asked how he was able to adapt living in a longhouse, Muhammad Izwan said he did not find it difficult.
“Initially, I find it strange, with the dogs roaming around, but after some time I got use to it, and also because there is another couple from the peninsula staying here, as well as other married Muslim converts.
“Celebration of festivals, such as ‘Do Ledoh’ and Christmas, is merrier and we are also invited to join. In terms of food, there is no fear because they understand us (Muslims) and always ensure there is Muslim catering,” he added.
Muhammad Izwan, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Sociology from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, said he would also share his experience with his family and friends when he returned to the peninsula.
“Some of them were surprised when told that I’m staying in a longhouse. I told them the other occupants of the longhouse are very tolerant and that there is no problem for us to practise Islam. We are free to pray, to call for the prayer (azan) and dogs are not allowed near the ‘ruai’ area as a respect for the Muslims there,” he said.
In conjunction with this year’s Merdeka celebration. Muhammad Izwan’s message to Malaysians in the peninsula:
“To those who have never been to Sarawak, get to know Sarawak, and if you happen to see a man with tattoo, do not fear him. he is not a gangster, having tattoo is a culture in Sarawak,” he added. – BERNAMA
