BARAM, Dec 11 — The Penan community living in several longhouses in Lapok in Baram district, about 100 kilometres (km) from Miri town, are still waiting for the supply of clean treated water.
Kampung Tinjar Tengah penghulu, Larek Mat, 59, said for now they depend on the water of Sungai Tinjar for daily use such as bathing, farming and washing clothes.
“For drinking water, we have to collect rainwater using the tanks provided. Water from Sungai Tinjar is unsafe for consumption because it is not very clean,” he said when met by Bernama recently.
Meanwhile, Long Merigam longhouse chief, Paking Idoi, 60, said the clean treated water supply project to their settlement area was yet completed and hoped the government could speed it up so that all residents could live their daily lives better.
“The Social Welfare Department also helps us a lot by supplying mineral water in boxes during the dry season for the use of the residents here,” he said.
Bernama check at the Long Merigam longhouse, which has 32 units and 185 residents, found that there was a row of water tanks in front of the house to collect rainwater.
Paking also appealed to whoever was elected as Marudi assemblyman at the 12th Sarawak State Election to emphasis on the quality of roads and internet access in the area.
“Currently, we only have a gravel road to our longhouse (about 5km) and it is quite dangerous. I hope the government will pave the road and the communication tower in the village to start operating as soon as possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, Larek said the Penan community here expressed strong support for the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the upcoming state election as they were aware of the party’s ability in bringing progress to them.
“We, the Penan community, are still underdeveloped, there are many shortcomings. Hence, by supporting GPS, I hope the progress planned for the people here can be implemented because we want continuous development,” he added.
Marudi will see a five-cornered fight on Dec 18. Incumbent Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil from GPS will be up against his four opponents – Elias Lipi Mat of PKR; Sawing Kedit of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB); Gilbert Young of Parti of Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) and Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran of Parti Sarawak United (PSB).
In the 11th Sarawak state election, Dr Penguang, who contested on a Barisan Nasional ticket, won the seat with a majority of 1,387 votes.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency