Price of developing the Penan – Part 3

Over the last 30 years the Sarawak government has spent millions to help uplift the standard of living of the Penan community.

As Malaysia approaches the 2020 vision with the hope of being a developed country in less than three years, we can only wonder if former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was being over-optimistic with this projection?

In the 1980s under the administration of the previous Sarawak government of Chief Minister Tun Pehin Seri Abdul Taib Mahmud, a cabinet committee was formed under the current chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg.

Initially the government established three Baram Penan Service centres at Long Jekitan in the South, Long Kevok in the North and Batu Bungan in Mulu.

Prominent politicians such as the current Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Sri Najib Tun Razak and Datuk HIshamuddin Tun Hussein have accompanied Datuk Amar Abang Johari to the three Baram service centres. 

Starting with 12 Penan volunteers who were paid a basic allowance of RM400, the number of volunteers has increased to 30, but despite this the volunteers are cash-strapped and have little or no clout.

Catherine Lajo from Long Sepigen who has been a volunteer for 22 years said her current monthly allowance of RM450, inclusive of EPF, is hardly enough as she has other commitments such as raising her own family of three.

Over the last six months she had to spend her own money as well as to raise funds to help two needy Penan from the interior.

Apart from feeding her own family and paying for her eldest son’s studies in Kuala Lumpur, she has raised money for other members of her community including a paraplegic Penan youth named Andrew Aran and a three-month-old hole-in-the heart girt named Novaristy who recently died because she was too young to be operated on.

“It’s traumatic taking care of the sick and needy and a burden on my shoulders, especially if you are unable to do enough. The mother of Novaristy is still angry with me because we were unable to save her daughter,” she lamented.

But on a positive note, Marudi where Catherine is stationed, has a new “Rumah Sakai” or Penan rest house. Unlike the “Rumah Sakai” in some locations such as the shabby hut at Long Seridan, the modern Marudi Penan rest house is a boon to the community.

Having followed the developments taking place among the Baram Penan community, it appears to me there is no concerted or co-ordinated effort to help this struggling community.

Even so, the community has come a long way since the first Penan got her university degree in the 1980s. A modern-day settled Penan from University Utara Malaysia (UUM) in Kedah. Mareia Hasan- her father is Penan and mother Iban–was the first graduate. Her sister Serina who studied at the Drexel University in the United States of America followed suit.

Together with their two younger brothers Azlan and Herman (whose mother is Penan) from the family of Penan paramount chief Datuk Hasan Sui from Miri, they are a model family.

The first three Baram semi-nomadic Penan to graduate were Philip Unga from Long Banga who works in Kuala Lumpur, Ezra Uda from Long Lamai who is a Sarawak civil servant and University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) geography major John Ferry James of Long Beruang who is  now working for Petronas.

Even though Belaga only produced their first graduate Awi Abang–a Penan from Long Wat in the Murum watershed from the Belaga district– much later, it was a feather in the community’s cap.

Graduating from the University of Malaysia, Sarawak (UNIMAS) in 2007 with a social science degree, Awi said that all the sacrifices of his parents and hard work have resulted in his success.

“I am really grateful to all of those who have helped me along especially my family, my teachers and UNIMAS. Also not forgetting the Sarawak government,” added Awi who is now the Penan officer in charge of his community and based at the State Planning Unit in the Chief Minister’s office at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya, Kuching.

His university mate and colleague Ezra Uda from Long Lamai in upper Baram, the first semi-nomad Penan to graduate, said it was gratifying that both of them had studied social science and obtained their degrees.

“As they say, nothing is impossible and with God’s blessings we pulled through,” said Ezra a Sarawak Administrative Officer (SAO) who was once an acting district officer in the Baram.

Ezra who often gives pep talks to Penan students all over Sarawak to encourage them to pursue their tertiary education said that the authorities had treated properly the younger Penan who went to school.

“We must treat the younger Penan with some sensitivity because we are a shy race. When I was in primary one my teacher caned me because I fell asleep in class. Because of that I ran away from school and vowed not to return.

“But thanks to my father and other caring teachers, I returned to school and can now say that going to school was the best decision I ever made in my life.”

Apart from Awi and Ezra there are more than 30 Penan with degrees, and tertiary qualifications such as diplomas.

In 2008 there were 1,757 Penan students attending 22 primary and six secondary schools in the Baram.

Recently the government established six more Rural Service Centres in the Baram and Limbang to enable not only the Penan but other native communities to enjoy better facilities and amenitie.

However, despite all the facilities, there must be greater commitment by other agencies to continue to monitor the Penan community who are still far behind the other communities.

The Baram of Penan are late-starters and it will take another generation before they can stand tall with other native Sarawakians, let alone Malaysians.

Despite the smaller number of successful Penan when compared to other neighbouring communities; for example the 10,000-strong Kelabit community have at least 1,000 professionals including architects, doctors, engineers, university professors, scientists compared to their 30 graduates–the Penan have made great strides in the last 30 years.

But the Penan are still a handicapped community which suffers from an inferiority complex given their predicament as one of the poorest and most backward communities in the country.

If the Penan are not given preferential treatment, it could take another generation before we can uplift their standard of living to enable them to stand tall with the others, and be proud to be Sarawakians.

(To be continued)