Longhouse chiefs’ complaints backed up by proofs

November 12, 2015, Thursday

The poor condition of Rumah Marinda at Jambatan Teru because it has been denied government aid.

Road leading to Rumah Ambon that was supposed to be tar-sealed in September last year.

KUCHING: The 53 Tuai Rumah (longhouse chiefs) who brought up their grouses to president of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) Dato Seri Tiong King Sing on Oct 31 have solid proofs of the discrimination they and their people are suffering in the unfair implementation of rural projects.

SPDP Youth chief Robert Ayu said in a statement yesterday, the claim by five longhouse chief aligned to Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) that he must have been blind folded when he was in Marudi not to see the development there was misleading.

He said while it was true that some development had taken place there, the implementation of the projects was done selectively in places where the people support the incumbent State Assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entri.

“This is a serious abuse of power and against the principle of Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem who said he is a Chief Minister for all Sarawakians.

“Entri was elected the state assemblyman of Marudi not just of Teras members in Marudi and he shoulders the responsibility of looking after the whole constituency.”

Robert pointed out this practice would set a dangerous trend in the state with projects being implemented only in areas where the people are supporters of the incumbent assemblyman.

“I appeal to the chief minister to intervene in this unfair distribution of development projects and grants especially when Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters affected.”

On the contention by the five longhouse chiefs that as an outsider he did not know the actual situation in the area, the SPDP Youth chief said he had visited the constituency many times and seen with his own eyes the misery of the people who were denied development because of their political affiliation and had taken photographs of the poor condition of the roads and longhouses and spoke to the people affected.

He cited as an example the case of the road to Rumah Buan which was built some years ago but the stretch of about 500 metres from the main road was not tar sealed because the people in the area supported SPDP.

Robert added that some projects was being implemented at Rh Ingkas but the nearby longhouses of Rh Buan, Rh Louis,and Rh Seli all in Malang were neglected because the residents there supported SPDP.

He alleged that the 1Malaysia water tanks were given only to those who supported Teras as in the case in Rumah Buan.

Robert said he was informed by Tr Douglas Bungan Ak Timban that before his long house used to have 70 doors however after he was replaced as Tuai Rumah without consulting the residents they split into two long houses and those supporting him had not been given development and even denied of 1Malaysia water tank.

Another case pointed out by Robert is Rumah Marinda at Jambatan Teru, located about 500 meters from main road of Lapok – Long Lama Road.

“The road is muddy when rainy season. The long house is in very sorry condition. The electricity pole had been there for years but no power has been connected and there is no clean water supply forcing the people to rely on rainwater for drinking.”

Another longhouse suffering from discrimination in Marudi is Rumah Sporran at Tinjar where request for water tank was denied and financial support for the primary school SK Seputik withdrawn because the majority of the people there are SPDP members.

Another neglected longhouse Robert cited was Rumah Alam, Long Tisam, Tinjar with 3 long houses of 90 doors located about 3 Kilometers from Miri- Bakong Road where their request for tar sealed road was rejected as they are SPDP members.

The SPDP Youth leader added other Tuai Rumah he spoke in Marudi who claimed of discrimination were Tr Pengabang ak Janang, Sg Seruas, Bakong , Tr Larek Mat, Lapok Tinjar, Baram representing 6 Penan villages, Tr Sayun Ak Galam, Sg Arang, Bakong , Tr Mohsin ak Radin, Sg Sebatang Tinjar.

Tr Gasa Ak Pagon, Jambatan Sg Bok, Tinjar , Tr Budin Ak Namek, Sg Tuyut, Tinjar, Baram , Tr Ngumbang Ak Tia, Tr Enggah Ak Jalong, Sg Selulit, Sebatang, Bok and Tr Manggi, Long Tisam, Tinjar, Baram

Robert said the complaints brought up by so many longhouse chiefs showed that there is deep dissatisfaction among the people in Marudi over the conduct of the incumbent assemblyman.

“If indeed there is development in Marudi, why did representatives from SUPP, PRS and PBB in front of more than 1000 people voice their support for a new candidate from SPDP?

“The five Tuai Rumah themselves admitted Datuk Entri had failed the constituents of Marudi when they said SPDP had failed.

“They should ask who has been the state assemblyman of Marudi for the last 20 years. Is it not Datuk Entri?”

That is why SPDP wanted to field a new candidate to replace him in the next election Robert said.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/11/12/longhouse-chiefs-complaints-backed-up-by-proofs/#ixzz3rMjpzFxh

My comments:
What is true cannot be covered up anymore.  It is goodlah that nowadays with the convenience of modern technology everything can be captured in pictures to show to everybody everywhere in the world though it is still inconvenient to reach the longhouses by road or water.