SIBU: Thirteen longhouses in Bawang Assan area have received allocations under the Minor Rural Project (MRP), strengthening support for community activities while highlighting the importance of grassroots leadership in driving development in the area.
The allocations, provided by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is also Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, were handed over by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Bawang Assan branch chairman Councillor Kevin Lau Kor Jie during a cheque presentation ceremony at Rumah Joseph Abet, Bawang Assan, on Sunday (Aug 16).
Also present were Temenggong Stanley Gramong, Penghulu Dennis Ansam and Matthew Dandi, representing Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Bawang Assan branch chairman Romeo Christopher Tegong.
Lau said the allocations were made following a request submitted by the 13 longhouses through Penghulu Dennis during Dr Sim’s visit to Rumah Joseph with the Chinese Ambassador, Ouyang Yujing, during the Gawai celebrations earlier this year.
The visit had also provided an opportunity for the Chinese Ambassador to experience the Gawai celebrations first-hand, including witnessing the traditional miring ritual and visiting a longhouse for the first time.
Lau said the occasion demonstrated the openness of the local community and the strong spirit of togetherness that exists among the people of Bawang Assan.
“We shared a very meaningful culture that reflects our family spirit and openness in welcoming special guests,” he said.
Lau stressed that the significance of the MRP allocations should not be judged solely by the amount of funding received.
Instead, he said, the allocations represented recognition of the role played by longhouse leaders in organising community activities, maintaining harmony and responding to the needs of their respective communities.
He said Dr Sim had also conveyed his appreciation to the longhouse chiefs for their continued contributions to the development and wellbeing of communities in Bawang Assan.
“Dr Sim hopes that the MRP allocations will support activities in the longhouses while also serving as a form of recognition for the important role played by community leaders,” he said.
The decision to conduct the cheque presentation in Bawang Assan, rather than at the SUPP office in Sibu, was made following a request from Penghulu Dennis on behalf of the longhouse chiefs.
According to Lau, bringing the presentation directly to the community not only made it more convenient for the recipients but also created an opportunity for closer engagement between community leaders and local representatives.
“Handing over the cheques here is more meaningful than distributing them at the SUPP office in town because we can meet them directly and look for more opportunities to strengthen our relationship,” he said.
He also pledged to continue assisting Bawang Assan in seeking further allocations for local development whenever circumstances allowed.
Lau said continued development in Bawang Assan would require cooperation from all communities, regardless of ethnic or religious background.
He called for the spirit of “Segulai Sejalai” — moving forward together — to remain central to efforts to develop the area.
“We must continue to move forward together. This is about bringing people together, not only the Iban community but also the Chinese and Malay communities.
“We want to develop the area as a whole because our goal is not only to see Bawang Assan develop, but also Sibu as a whole. Development must improve people’s quality of life, not only economically but also in terms of infrastructure,” he said.
Lau also pointed to a proposed bridge project which he believes could become a major catalyst for development in Sibu and surrounding areas.
He recalled submitting the proposal to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg during last year’s Chinese New Year celebrations.
According to him, Abang Johari had recently indicated during the PBB Central Zone Convention that the proposed bridge would depend on the commitment and cooperation of all parties in pushing Sibu towards greater development.
Lau, who is also SUPP Youth Chief, said that if the project received approval, construction was expected to take about three years.
He believed the long-term impact of the bridge would extend well beyond improving connectivity.
“With the support and cooperation of everyone, if the bridge is approved, it will take about three years to build.
“I believe that once the bridge is completed, the development of Sibu as a whole will look very different,” he said.
He urged the community to work collectively towards the proposed development, stressing that decisions made today would ultimately determine the opportunities available to the younger generation.
“We must work together, with one heart, to achieve this goal so that the younger generation can also enjoy the results of the efforts we make today,” he said.
The MRP allocations, he added, were therefore not merely short-term assistance for community activities, but part of a broader effort to strengthen grassroots participation and ensure that development in Bawang Assan keeps pace with the wider growth of Sibu.
