MATU: There are serious efforts to conserve Rumah Panjang Melanau Kampung Sok here, said Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya.
He said application has been submitted to the Sarawak Museum Department and the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) for the longhouse to be gazetted under the Heritage Ordinance 2019.
This effort will enable the conservation process that is estimated to cost RM20 million to be approved by the government.
“I have explained to the villagers to give full cooperation to ensure that the process can be done immediately.
“The Sarawak Museum Department has also informed through a meeting with MTCP that the repair cost has been estimated by the Public Works Department (PWD).
“Once the construction of the coastal road is completed, this longhouse will be included in the list of tourist attractions in Sarawak and which will a strong economic effect on the people here,” he said when met at the Jum Berambeh Raya Tang Lebuk Lalo Melanau programme held here, recently.
Juanda, who is also Jemoreng assemblyman, said that the long-term benefit of the conservation efforts is that the longhouse will later be registered under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and subsequently become one of the world’s tourist attractions.
He said the longhouse is very unique and differs from other longhouses in Sarawak and it is the only Melanau longhouse that still exists.
“We hope that the government, through the Sarawak Museum Department and MTCP will immediately carry out conservation efforts due to concerns about the condition of the longhouse which is quite dilapidated despite being declared as a heritage site around 1987 but yet to be registered under the Heritage Ordinance 2019,” he added.
Touching on Rumah Spektra Permata (RSP) for the residents of Kampung Sok, he said the Land and Survey Deparment had previously informed that the site of the Village Expansion Scheme (SPK) had already been identified which is opposite Kampung Pergau, Matu and will accommodate residents from Kampung Sok, Kampung Halud, Kampung Pergau and Kampung Kuala Matu.
Once the SPK process has been completed, Juanda said RSP will be expanded to this area to ensure population growth.
The annual programme held on the third day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri is aimed at fostering ties between the local residents and surrounding villages as well as to promote Rumah Panjang Melanau Kampung Sok.
