AKDC Newsletter- DENGAH AKDC BELAGA Vol. 7 Dec 2011

PENGERUSI ASAP-KOYAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (AKDC) YB ENCIK LIWAN LAGANG DILANTIK SEBAGAI MENTERI MUDA, KEMENTRIAN PEMBANGUNAN SOSIAL (KEBUDAYAAN DAN WARISAN) DALAM KABINET NEGERI SARAWAK, SEPTEMBER 2011

 Perlantikan Pengerusi AKDC, YB Encik Liwan Lagang sebagai Menteri Muda, Kementerian Pembangunan Sosial  (Kebudayaan dan Warisan) dalam Kabinet Kerajaan negeri Sarawak merupakan satu sejarah yang terjadi di dalam era masa kini masyarakat Orang Ulu. AKDC amat terharu dengan perlantikan tersebut kerana ini telah membuktikan bahawa Pengerusi AKDC mampu melaksanakan peranan nya sebagai pemimpin yg berkaliber dan berwibawa.

Election of Office Bearers (2011-2013) for Asap Koyan Development Community (AKDC)

On 30^th June 2011, Asap Koyan Development Community (AKDC) held its second Annual General Meeting at Dewan Serbaguna Asap Koyan at the Bakun Resettlement Scheme (BRS) Belaga to elect the Officer Bearers for year 2011 to 2013. The AGM agreed to endorse, and elected unanimously by showing of hands the election of the following:

Panel of Advisors:

·         YB Tan Sri Dr. James Jemut Masing

·         YB Datuk Billy Abit Joo

·         Datuk Sri Temenggong Nyipa Bato

Executive Committee Members:

·         Chairman: YB Liwan Lagang

·         Deputy Chairman I: Mr. Henry Opang Luhat

·         Deputy Chairman II: Pemanca Umek Jeno

·         Secretary: Mr. Thomas Balan Bang

·         Deputy Secretary: Mr. Rom Kulleh

·         Treasurer: Cr. Ujang Himang

·         Deputy Treasurer: Stephen Karim Langang

·         Members: Pemanca Tony Kulleh

                    Mr. Stanley Bennet Lehan

                    Mr. William Nyipa Paso

                    Ps. Tram Epoi

                    Dr. Elli Luhat

                    Mr. Romio Ding

                    Mr. Michael Mujah Lihan                                

                    Ms. Maria Kiin

 

YB Liwan Lagang beating  the ‘tawak’ to signify the official opening of AKDC AGM 2011 on 30-6-2011 in the presence of  community leaders from Asap-Koyan, BRS Belaga.

Signing of Letter of Appointment  and Oath of Office by AKDC EXCO

On 30^th July 2011, a month after being elected as AKDC Executive Committee members, Pemanca Umek Jeno (Deputy Chairman II), Pemanca Tony Kulleh (Member), Cr. Ujang Himang (  GM/Treasurer), Mr. Thomas Balan Bang (Secretary), Mr. Rom Kulleh (Deputy Secretary), Mr. Stephen Karim Langang (Deputy Treasurer),  Mr. William Nyipa Paso (Member), Mr. Stanley Bennet Lehan (Member), Mr. Romio Ding (Member), Mr. Michael Mujah Lihan (Member) and Ms. Maria Kiin (Member) signed their Letter of Appointment before YB Liwan Lagang (Chairman) and witnessed by Mr. Henry Opang Luhat (Deputy Chairman I).  

APPOINTMENT OF AKDC WORKING COMMITTEES (2011-2013)

The following were appointed members of AKDC WORKING COMMITTEES holding office for the period year 2011 to 2013;

LAND & PLANTATION: MR. HENRY OPANG LUHAT (CHAIRMAN)

                                          PEMANCA TONY KULLEH (SECRETARY)

SETTLEMENT & LEGACY: PEMANCA UMEK JENO (CHAIRMAN)

                                             MR. STANLEY BENNET LEHAN (SECRETARY)

EDUCATION & TRAINING: MR. THOMAS BALAN BANG (CHAIRMAN)

                                               PASTOR TRAM EPOI (SECRETARY)

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES: CR. UJANG HIMANG (CHAIRMAN)

                                                    MR. ROM KULLEH (SECRETARY)

TOURISM, CULTURE, ART & SPORTS: MR. WILLIAM NYIPA PASO (CHAIRMAN)

                                                                  MR. ROMIO DING (SECRETARY)

                                                                   MS. MARIA KIIN

INFRASTRUSTURES & FACILITIES: MR. MICHAEL MUJAH LIHAN (CHAIRMAN)

                                                            MR. STEPHEN KARIM LANGANG (SECRETARY)

Group Photograph of AKDC Executive Committee for 2011-2013 line-up taken at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel on 30.7.2011. Seated from left to right; Ms Maria Kiin, Mr. Thomas Balan Bang, Pemanca Umek Jeno, YB Liwan Lagang, Mr. Henry Opang Luhat,  Cr. Ujang Himang, and standing from left to right; Mr. Michael Mujah Lihan, Mr. William Nyipa Paso, Mr. Rom Kulleh, Mr. Stephen Karim Langang, Mr. Stanley Bennet Lehan, Dr. Elli Luhat and Mr. Romio Ding. (except Pastor Tram is not in the picture).

Grievances Mechanism Plan (GMP)

AKDC had undertaken a Grievances Mechanism Plan (GMP)for Murum Penan Resettlement, which was supervised and submitted by Mr. Johny Akau, and was happy to note that State Planning Unit (SPU) has consented to most of the requests of the displaced communities.

Short Stories Essay Competition (SSEC)

This is being organised in collaboration with Dewan Pustaka as advisor to improve literacy among students. Cr. Ujang Himang and Mr. Romio Ding are following-up on this by liaising with teachers in Belaga to promote the SSEC, which is divided into 5 groups, Primary (1), Secondary (3) and Open (1), to encourage more participation and extending the dateline towards the end of November, 2011. The prizes for the winners which will be given during AKDC dinner in November, 2011 and the short stories may be compiled by AKDC, into book in future.

PESTA BAKUN BELAGA

Cr Ujang Himang, AKDC Organising Committee for PESTA BAKUN BELAGA IN collaboratIon with Kelab Belia Belaga Sarawak (KBBS) to organise this carnival which is scheduled tentatively from 16^th-18th December 2011, and to liaise with the relevant authorities.

Pattern right or Intellectual property right

The first part for the Orang Ulu Sape Music registration of the pattern right or Intellectual property right under Kayan-Kenyah AKDC to the Consultant, Henry Goh Sdn Bhd, has been submitted while the Ikeng Kalong is still pending as it is being digitized. 
 

Book entitled ‘The Lost Civilization’

AKDC engages Dr. Peter Kedit to work on this book project entitled ‘The Lost Civilization’, which will involve interviewing some local folks once he gets the questionnaires done for sourcing material inputs into the compilation of a ‘240-page book’ with 15 Chapters ( a chapter covering each longhouse). 

‘Kuman Bahek” Programme

This comes under Tourism, Culture, Arts and Sports Committee which Mr. William Nyipa Paso and Ms. Maria Kiin working together in collaboration Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and other agencies to promote the BRS and Bakun HEP as tourism sites. AKDC proposes to organise a picnic ‘Kuman Bahek’ programme to the Bakun Lake soon. 

User Pay Principle For Funding

AKDC wants to act on the advices of its advisors by working on innovative funding method whereby such fund could be obtained by using ‘User Pay Principle’ and channelled through credible entity like Bakun Trust Fund. This principle must be accepted and adopted by the Government first.

Land Titles

The issuance of Land Titles for the lots owned by the in people in BRS is ongoing by the Land & Survey Department, Sarawak. AKDC advises that the related government authorities handling the case to expedite the implementation.

Compensations for longhouse buildings

AKDC will meet with Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd to discuss the people’s opinion on investing the balance of their compensations for longhouse buildings for long-term source of income.

Rubber Smallholding Estates

According to Dr. Elli Luhat, a Board member of Lembaga Getah Malaysia (LGM) has approved fund for rubber cultivation of RM2 million for the Orang Asli in West Malaysia and another RM5 million for the Dayaks in Sarawak. AKDC is looking into the opportunity of supplying rubber seedlings to assist in establishing smallholding rubber estates in the Belaga District.

Business Opportunities

AKDC through AKDC Holdings Sdn Bhd will seek for business opportunities, to work together with LGM, RISDA, FELCRA etc, in implementing development projects in BRS and Belaga and negotiate with them favourable terms of funding and CSR contribution for AKDC activities.

Asap-Koyan Township

AKDC is in discussion with Borneo Development Corporation (BDC) for a joint submission of a proposal for a township in BRS.

Signboards for BRS

AKDC will be writing to the Resident in Kapit with proposal for the erection of three (3) conspicuous signboards (showing directions) placed at strategic locations at the junctions of Bakun-Bintulu-Miri Road, Bakun-Asap Road and within Asap-Koyan BRS Road.

Inspection of electrical wirings in BRS

AKDC will undertake to inspect the electrical wirings in BRS but will only pay for the cost of inspection by qualified SESCO electricians, whereas any other costs incurred will be borne by house owners themselves.

Road Safety in Asap-Koyan

Deplorable road condition of the Bakun Highway caused by the overloaded logging trucks and other big vehicles

The Road Safety in Asap-Koyan staged at the end of 2010 has little impact. AKDC hopes to carry out other Road Safety campaigns to improve the deplorable road condition of the Bakun Highway caused by the overloaded logging trucks and other big vehicles that ply the road illegally and regularly.  There is still a need to address road safety problems as travelling along the damaged Bakun highway endangers lives of the people in Belaga in general.

AKDC Office and Museum

AKDC is looking into the possibility of converting an abandoned NGO-sponsored museum building (presently, without electricity supply connection) into AKDC office by liaising with Mr. Ipoi Datan, Curator of Sarawak Museum.

Briefing on Strategic Development of Belaga

Professor Dr. Harry Entabang from UNIMAS briefed AKDC on his proposal for ‘Strategic Development of Belaga’ taking into consideration the political, economic, social, technological, educational and legal (PESTEL) needs of the people in the area.

Briefing on Commercial Planting of Rubber under Reforestation Programme on NCR Land

Mr. Peter Umak, General Manager of Farmers Organization Sarawak spoke on the feasibility of Commercial Planting of Rubber under Reforestation Programme on NCR Land, especially for the communities below Bakun.

A summary of AKDC activities since 2009/Ringkasan Aktiviti-Aktiviti AKDC semenjak 2009

1.       Aktiviti AKDC dalam pendidikan

• Ceramah  Motivasi  (Tahunan) oleh individu yang sudah berjaya dalam pendidikan kepada ibu-bapa pelajar (melalui PIBG) sejak 2009
• pelajar sekolah rendah
•  pelajar sekolah menengah

• Hadiah galakan AKDC kepada pelajar Belaga di institusi pengajian tinggi yang mendapat keputusan yangg cemerlang GPA  semester terakhir 3.0 ke atas di atas cadangan  Pengerusi AKDC bermula dalam 2011
• Ceramah penulisan esei kreatif untuk pelajar sekolah rendah dan menengah
• dan juga terbuka kepada semua pelajar di Daerah Belaga.

2.       Aktiviti AKDC dalam pembangunan kerohanian

• Sunday school seminars for Sunday school teachers in 2009 (600 attendants)
• Leadership Seminars for headmen and JKKK organized jointly with Ministry of Rural Development (180 paricipants in Uma Bakah) in 2010
• Youth Convention (1200 paricipants in Uma Juman) in 2011                        

3.       Aktiviti AKDC dalam Pertanian dan Perikanan

•  Robert Capstick  reports on Agriculture Land Use is now being adopted and used by the Sarawak state government to do  agriculture planning for BRS
• Meeting between YB Liwan, Henry Opang Luhat , Ujang Himang with strong recommendation by  Tan Sri Dr. James Jemut Masing (AKDC Advisor) with top officials from MPOB in late 2008 brought about the construction of MPOB office buildings in Sg Asap and MPOB model plantation in Belaga.
• Meeting between AKDC members and headmen from Asap BRS with the Minister of Science Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) paved a way for the construction of Gaharu planting and factory in BRS, the first of its kind in Sarawak. 
•  A visit to a Leeches farm in Selangor in 2009 by AKDC stirred a great interest initially but later some leeches projects in Selangor, Kuching and Bintulu developed by some local farmers were not successful. The proposed Leeches farm site in Penan Talun BRS was reviewed. 

 

4.       Peranan AKDC AKDC dalam pembangunan Infarstruktur

•  RM1.7 million water bill waived in 2009
• Upgrading of roads surrounding the 15 longhouses 2010-2011
• Upgrading Bakun-Asap junction to BRS township were also carried out in 2010
• Water intake from Koyan river is yet to be implemented after Prime Minister visit in 2011
• Request to build Belaga town- Bakun Highway access road were granted and works started in 2011.
• Request to construct Penan Urun longhouses were approved by the Ministry of Rural  Development after a visit to the minister were conducted by AKDC members in 2009

5.       Perananan  AKDC dalam penyelesaian isu-isu legacy

•  Permohonan AKDC untuk mempercepatkan dan mendapat balik pampasan rumah lama diUlu Balui disambut dan diterima baik oleh Kerajaan negeri dan kerajaan pusat dimana 50%       daripada harga rumah tersebut dijelaskan pada bulan April 2011 dan separuh lagi di dalam proses.
• Kesemua rumah panjang di BRS juga telah dipersetujui untuk diberi percuma.
•  Jalan akses ke tanah-tanah lot pertanian sedang diusahakan berperingkat-peringkat
•  Tanah 3 ekar perlu ditambah dan Kerajaan telah bersetuju mencari kawasan yang bersesuaian untuk penduduk BRS.
• Kerajaan Malaysia juga bersetuju agar Janakuasa letrik Bakun akan dibawa ke BRS daripada Sub-stesen Samalaju.
•  Sedang dalam permohonan adalah lot kedai AKDC, Balai Polis, Balai Bomba dan Medan Niaga  oleh SEDC (surat telah disampaikan oleh AKDC kepada Pengerusi SEDC pada 4 Disember 2011.
• AKDC telah mengadakan mesyuarat bersama ketua-ketua masyarakat dan JKKK serta penduduk bawah/Hilir Bakun untuk mencari kaedah pelaksanaan program pembangunan di kawasan Hilir Bakun ada 25 November 2011
• AKDC giat menjalankan ‘Grievances Mechanism’ bagi 5 perkampungan Penan yang terlibat dengan Projek Hidro Murum.

6.       Peranan AKDC dalam pembangunan Budaya dan Warisan

• YB Liwan Lagang (Pengerusi), Henry Opang Luhat (CEO) dan Ujang Himang (GM) AKDC telah menyampaikan permohonan untuk mendapatkan hak IP kepada Muzik ‘Sape’ dan Ukiran Motif Orang Ulu yang telah dikemukakan di Geneva melalui Peguam Azlina Hasman dari the House of Henry Goh Kuala Lumpur.
•  Lawatan beberapa orang penting dari Rio Tinto termasuk rombongan CEO Rio Tinto Alcan Jacynthe Cote dan Tom Burke menyaksikan sambutan penuh tradisi masyarakat orang ulu kepada mereka di BRS dalam tahun 2010 anjuran AKDC.  
• Penulisan Buku Mewah (Coffee Table Edition) mengenai sejarah, budaya dan warisan 15 buah rumah panjang yg dipindahkan dari Sg. Balui ke BRS sedang dalam penulisan draf akhir oleh Dr. Peter Kedit dan Henry Opang Luhat.
• AKDC bersama KBBS sedang menganjurkan pertandingan sukan permainan rakyat dan kebudayaan, muzik dan tarian orang ulu di Sungai Asap mulai 16 hingga 18 Disember 2011.
• Lawatan bersama pemimpin masyarakat di Kelian Mining dalam 2009 sebagai jejak kasih di kawasan masyarakat Kayan Kenyah di sungai Mahakam Indonesia.

7.       Peranan AKDC dalam pembangunan belia (KBBS) dan Sukan

• Sukan di Bandaraya Kuching
• Malam Budaya dan penyampaian Hadiah

         8.       Peranan AKDC dalam pembangunan pelancongan dan indutri kecil-kecilan

• AKDC menetapkan kadar bayaran sehari RM 50 bagi peserta homestay di Asap BRS.
•  Turut serta di dalam state task force committee on Tourism di Bintulu pada25 Oct  2011

Just for thought...Some legacy issues in the BRS

The Orang Ulu (OU) communities in the Bakun Resettlement Scheme (BRS) in  Asap-Koyan, Belaga are in a dilemma. They don't have enough lands or some don't have any land at all. In fact, the lands that the OU people have in the BRS today are only the lands allotted by the government in 1998. That's the meager 3-acre land plots per household. Thus, some desperately have resorted to clear state lands for more farmlands and other land uses.

It's rather sad but true, they've got only '3-acre land plots per household' in exchange for their great expanse of undulating lands, brooks, streams, rivers, ravines, valleys, hills and mountains in the Balui territory before. Once, they're free to roam within their Daleh (territory) for their sustenance and livelihood. But nowadays, they're confined to their small 3-acre land plots within an environment surrounded by plantation companies, left and right, for a living!

To add salt to the wound, the 3-acre land plots are found to be infertile, not conducive and productive for the cultivation of staple food and cash crops on long term basis as highlighted out in Agriculture Survey and Land Utilization Study on the Bakun Resettlement Scheme (BRS) in Asap, Belaga. (It was conducted by Robert Capstick, engaged by SALCO, and presented in SALCO REPORT TO THE MINISTRY OF MODERNIZATION OF AGRICULTURE in 2008. 

Indeed, the unavailability and lack of sufficient fertile and cultivable lands in the BRS is one of the crucial and critical legacy issues besetting the OU in the BRS. 

Another major obstacle that confounds the owners of these limited 3-acre land plots is the ownership is at stake- PENDING. The 3-acre land plots are yet to be issued with 'Land Titles'. Solving this dilemma must be prioritized by the relevant government authority before it worsens. Anyway, the issuance of Land Titles for the plots of land  owned by the rakyat in BRS, had been delayed although initiated by the authorities concerned, the Land and Survey Department and the District Office, Kapit Division after the last state election in 2011. It seems processing the Land Titles is rather slow.

The rakyat hope that the government expedites the process because with the Land Titles to their land plots, they have something as collateral to apply and secure loans to develop their land plots. The issuance of Land Title adds value and worth to the land! Failure to deliver these Land Titles gives PR an opportunity to tell voters about BN's weaknesses to serve the rakyat. Besides, issuing them before & during election time will be regarded as a political bait to win votes!

Being an agriculture-based community, the OU are greatly dependent on the availability of sufficient fertile and cultivable lands in the BRS for survival and sustainability of their livelihood. Any lack of arable land is a blight on their economic development and progress. Many wanted to work on and develop their land plots, and some have cultivated oil palm, rubber, cocoa, pepper and other crops on their 3-acre land plots. But a 3-acre land plot per household is truly not enough to support a growing household! How much more a growing OU population in the BRS!!!

Indeed, the OU in the BRS need more lands for oil palm, rubber, cocoa, pepper and some other crops. Most importantly, arable lands for hill padi planting and other food crops for their staple diet!

Many longhouse folks especially the older generation lacks formal education to be employable by  mushrooming oil palm estates and plantations all around the BRS. The companies offer low wages ranging from RM10.00-RM15.00 per day which the locals do not find attractive and sufficient to support an ever increasing cost of living in the BRS. So, the question arises, 'How many uneducated OU want to work at the estates and plantations? How about the educated younger generation comprising those with some forms of formal education at primary, secondary and tertiary level?' 

The problem of unemployment problem in the BRS is acute. From observations, it seems many OU are reluctant to find employment with these plantation companies due to the poor pay. Instead, the uneducated ones prefer to till their 3-acre land plots, either planting just a particular crop like pepper or inter-cropping between pepper, cocoa, oil palm, and padi as well. Those with formal education, they prefer looking beyond the horizons where the pastures are greener. Some find work with timber companies, factories and industries in the towns and cities, both locally and internationally.  So, they emigrate from the BRS since there are no meaningful employments to sustain their livelihood and living off the land in the BRS. 
This also leads to a social issue of decreasing population in the BRS in the foreseeable future.

By the way, it is also sad but true to note that the employment of the locals especially OU in the conglomerates involved in the construction of two mega HEP dams in our Daleh Belaga is pitiful. They can easily be counted with the fingers! For something humongous that happens right in our backyard, it is just too painful and shameless when we are somehow made helpless and tongue-tied to say anything about what's going on!. Yes, shame on us all - both leaders and followers alike! Frankly, we, OU in the BRS and Belaga in general are not strong or united to demand for OU Native Rights!. We are weak, indeed. Outsiders trample on us and do whatsoever they wish!

Maybe, we all need to wake from our slumber, now, sooner or later! Or we never will! You see, people, we, OU, need land, yes, more lands. Ask and take back what have been taken from us with subtlety. For it's an indisputable fact that the majority OU are still uneducated and even if we're educated we still depend on the land for a living! Definitely, the 3-acre land plot given per household by the government is insufficient for the coming and growing OU generations. If nothing is done, we may wake up and find ourselves landless in our own beloved Daleh one day sooner than we ever expected!

But let's not lose hope, for there's indication by the government as disclosed by someone in authority from the government administration that sincere efforts are being taken to look for suitable lands somewhere out there to give our OU communities in the BRS. Meantime, let's just keep our fingers crossed and pray for favor and answer to our cries for more lands!

Yes, we need more lands for our expanding OU population in the BRS- to build new houses for additional families, and of course, needing lands for future expansion and posterity of our great OU people in the BRS and Belaga as well! 

LONG LIVE ORANG ULU BELAGA!!! UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL!!!

The New Reality - Change! We Can and We Must!

The New Reality - Change! We Can and We Must!

It is an undeniable written and oral truth passed down through the generations that life without change in any human society is death. Insomuch, human civilizations have always been changing either for good or bad, depending on the government of the day. We, the minority Orang Ulu (OU) living in Alo Balel (Balui River) in Belaga and in other parts of Belaga district, the state and country in general are no exception to this truth. It's a timeless reality - Change!

Interestingly, our OU Kayan and Kenyah's word for CHANGE are Balui and Balel respectively. Indeed, we have been living in the River of Change from the days of old. Yes, the River of Change is flowing and we must flow along with it. Some try to stop the natural flow of the River of Change but they can't for long. If it stops flowing, the river dies! And death will be the end of all depending on the mighty Balui River too! It must keeps flowing because CHANGE means survival. We Must and Can Change, flowing together in the River of Change for OU society posterity!

Whether we are pro-government or anti-government, like it or not, we, OU in Daleh Belaga must and can change. That is change in tandem with time....The New Reality...Moving on with development and progress in our Daleh Belaga!

There is a definite need for us to rise up to the occasion to take up the challenge now coming our ways - confronting and looking at us right in the face. The question is, 'Is there anyone among us daring to take the bull by the horns?  Greenhorns among us may have some reservations but those old hands in their respective fields should lead by example so that the inexperienced young ones could somehow follow in their footsteps!
 
Yes, we must and can change our weaknesses into our strengths. Above all else, we, OU in Daleh Belaga,  - must change our mindset. Maybe, it is difficult to do but nothing is really impossible for when there is a will, there is a way, so it goes. OU must no longer procrastinate but be proactive, instead. We must discard our 'blaming others' or 'crab' mentality and other negative attitudes. We must be positive and progressive in order to participate meaningfully in any development projects taking place right in our own backyards.

Ketua Masyarakat, ADUN & MP from Daleh Belaga with PM at PWTC on 18.2.11

Yes, OU in Daleh Belaga must remember these days because of their historical significance! Our beloved YBs have relayed the concerns, cares, worries, problems, needs and desires to the highest figure in authority in the nation. And by so doing, instructing every relevant authority to look into every matter highlighted, accordingly. Let us pray that our requests and the promises made by the government may be fulfilled as expected!

People of Daleh Belaga, for us to reap and enjoy the milk and honey (benefits) of change blowing across our Daleh Belaga, let us join hands together as one and jump in one big longboat, the BN boat. Maybe, I am wrong but as for now I think BN is still the best alternative for us in Daleh Belaga to sail the rough waters and take us safely home to our desired destination.

PM visit to Daleh 3B on 15.1.11

Young intellectuals, let us be part of the solutions to the problems besetting our respective community in Daleh Belaga. Come along aside our leaders, elders and YBs, Please, do not just criticize them for their perceived weaknesses and shortfalls. Instead, show them your ideas, suggestions and solutions, if you think that you are intellectual, educated, wise and smart. Do not be fooled by some political sweet talks and deceived by the wiles of wicked political schemers and masters!