MIRI (Aug 26): A historic meeting and dialogue at Ba Muboi over the weekend saw 20 Penan community and village chiefs giving their views and feedback to the government on the way forward for their people.

Held at the Ba Muboi Sungai Selaan Rural Service Centre, the gathering involved Penan leaders from throughout Baram.

Also present were 91 members of village security and development committees from Telang Usan and Mulu.

“The meeting of Penan leaders in Ba Muboi on these two days is also historic because this is the first time we have witnessed such close and strong unity between the leaders of the Penan community in the Baram area,” said Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala, who is Mulu assemblyman, who officiated at the event.

“The slogan PMP (Penan developing Penan) for the Council of Penan Community Leaders is most apt and meaningful because it shows confidence and enthusiasm to develop one’s own community.”

Baram Penan community leader Pemancha Henesser Uning Bong handed over resolutions from the event to Gerawat for action by the state government.

Gerawat told The Borneo Post the resolutions declared the Penan community’s support for Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, the Sarawak government, as well as all government development projects for the Penan community.

It also called for the right channel of communication to speak for the Penan community.

“Basically, they do not want NGOs (non-governmental organisations) to interfere and stop development for the Penan community,” said Gerawat.

He said consensus among the leaders augurs well for the future of the Penan community in Baram as it will lead them towards a new era of development.

Gerawat urged those present to emulate the progressive Penan communities in Long Jekitan, Long Balau, and Long Beruang, who have been receptive of government plans.

“The Premier of Sarawak wants all Sarawakians, including the Penan community and other communities in the interior, to have high incomes by 2030.

“The state government also wants all villages to be connected by road so that people can easily deal interact with each other and development for the people in all villages can be implemented unimpeded,” he said.

He added the government wants to connect all villages throughout Baram with roads so that other development can reach them.