MIRI: The state government will not marginalise any communities in Sarawak from mainstream development regardless of their localities.
“These have been the government’s message and efforts all along and I am glad I can see this is slowly taking place among our rural community especially here at Ba Pakan today,” Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said at a Thanksgiving gathering on the completion of the village’s church refurbishment and the presentation of birth certificates and identity cards to successful applicants during a programme conducted by Malaysian National Registration Miri Mobile Unit in June, 2018.
He added that those residing in the interior areas such as Ba Pakan would benefit and progress further if they listen to the ruling parties in the state.
Nineteen birth certificates and two identity cards were presented to the longhouse (Ba Pakan) residents at the gathering.
Ba Pakan is about five hours’ drive from Miri city.
It is a 52-door Penan longhouse in the interior of Telang Usan state constituency with 210 occupants.
“We want nothing else but to see all communities in the state irrespective of size in urban or remote areas of the state to be developed equally based on the conditions of their areas and situations.
“I have visited you many times for various reasons but on this first visit in 2019 I can see a change and feel a different atmosphere. Your reception to visitors has also changed for the better and I pray that this change will continue to grow among you.
“The first visit by the Malaysian National Registration Miri Mobile Unit team was in early 2016 upon my request with the sole purpose to provide those of you without personal documents (birth certificate and identity card) to apply for them but unfortunately due to reasons known only to those involved, you chased away these government officers and accused them of being Barisan Nasional government agents,” he said.
Dennis added that despite the team leader explaining the purpose of their visit you insisted the team leave immediately.
“This bad attitude has caused many poor among you who cannot afford to go to Long Lama National Registration branch office to apply for their documents to be done here in your village.
“That incident has resulted in the mobile unit team reluctant to return to your village despite knowing that there are many without any personal documents.
“I have to personally persuade them (mobile unit team) to return and they only agreed to come with my assurance that I personally accompany them and your church pastor agreed to help throughout the operation here in June 2018,” Dennis said.
He hoped that such incident would not happen again and advised the longhouse residents to give their full co-operation to government officers on a visit to their longhouse or village.
Pastor Dennis Bayoh, a pastor of the BEM Ba Pakan church who is also the organising chaiman for the event in his welcoming speech thanked Dennis Ngau their assemblyman for his efforts to bring development to their village.
“With Dennis’ tireless efforts we now realise the people who really care for the needs of the Penan and want to bring positive changes to the community,” he said.
Dennis also said that with the Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Lun Bawang and other communities in the state embracing Christianity have not only brought salvation to them but changes in their lives.
On the refurbishment of the church building, Dennis said he was very happy to see the amount of work done despite an allocation of RM5,000 is which considered small but in the true gotong-royong spirit among the people of Ba Pakan the works were carried out satisfactorily.
Dennis also suggested that the church leaders apply for fund from Unit For Other Religions (Unifor) for major church refurbishment in future.
