KUCHING: Providing residents with comfortable housing is another fundamental need that requires attention besides ensuring good road access.
In stating this, Kapit MP Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said in his constituency, many are still living in rows of longhouses along the Rajang River.
“Some of these longhouses are hundreds of years old. Thanks to technology and infrastructure development, some longhouses have been built using more modern methods but still retain the unique characteristics of the longhouses,” he said on a Facebook post today.
Citing an example, he said the construction of a new longhouse for Rumah Jacob in Nanga Leon, Sungai Menuan would be able to accommodate 10 families.
“The opportunity to build a new and more comfortable longhouse is a blessing for them,” he said.
Nanta added the new longhouse would not only provide a more comfortable living space for the residents but will also provide shelter for three new families.
“Thus, I’m delighted to have been invited to participate in the ‘mangkung tiang’ (marking the start of building the longhouse) ceremony, which is part of the tradition when a new longhouse is to be built,” he said.
He also said a good water supply and pumping system are also needed to help the residents of Rumah Jacob obtain clean water supply for daily use.
“Therefore, together with the Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Native Laws and Customs) and Bukit Goram assemblyman Datuk Jefferson Jamit, we have agreed to provide an additional allocation of RM60,000 for this purpose and to further equip the necessary facilities in this new longhouse for the comfort of the residents,” he said.
Nanta, who is also the federal Minister of Works, also allocated RM500 assistance each to over 100 families from the more than 12 longhouses in Kapit area.
