KUCHING: The city’s Orang Ulus have been urged to make sure that their children, especially those from poor families, are properly educated.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau believes that education is the main (if not the only) key that can elevate the community’s standard of living in future.
“Our parents and grandparents had sacrificed so much to ensure that we, their children and grandchildren, get educated and be able to climb the socio-economic ladder.
“Now it is our turn to make sure the next generations are much better than us,” he said during a dinner gathering called ‘Alem Pemung Kuman Ka Usey’ organised by Sarawak National Kenyah Association (PKKS), Kuching Branch, at the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) Hall last Saturday night.
He revealed that a few hundred students of SMK Pujut in Miri had to skip classes because their parents could not afford the cost of keeping them in school.
“This could also happen in Kuching too. In Miri City, there are cases of parents who don’t want their children to go to school,” he said.
Thus, he said the Federation of Orang Ulu Associations of Sarawak, Malaysia (Forum) must help to look out for the less fortunate Orang Ulu families to ensure that their children can go to school and eventually get jobs.
“We are not hunter-gatherers anymore like our ancestors. We have changed due to having education, jobs, and some even have their own businesses and are their own bosses.
“I am happy to note that the Orang Ulus are not far behind other communities. But don’t be content with not being far behind.
“We need to be on par with others or be better than them through sheer hard work and achieving the best we can,” he said.
Dennis, who is also the Sarawak Kayan Association president, then noted that the Penans also have many success stories. Many of their children have obtained college diplomas and degrees.
“The Penans were so used to living in the forest, but many have adapted to modern life. But thank God, many of them are successful today.
“There is a Penan boy is our area who is now pursuing his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). I think he will be the first Penan with a PhD,” he said.
On unity, he said it is always important for the Orang Ulu being a minority group in the state and country.
“There are just over 200,000 of us, so be united and support one another.”
Incentives were also presented during the dinner to eight students who achieved excellent results in their PT3 and SPM examinations.
For this, Dennis both praised and congratulated the association, saying that such initiatives would have encouragement to the recipients.
“I am proud of the efforts made by the association to help and motivate our children to strive harder and excel in school,” he said.
Also present at the dinner were PKKS Kuching Branch president Lucas Kallang, Forum vice president Ipoi Datan and Peng Leto Kenyah Sarawak (Sarawak Kenyah Women Association) chairwoman Catharina Tipong Usang.
