Rush to help Penans in Long Kajang, Long Luar

Bintulu, 13 Aug 2010- Relief teams from the state Welfare Department and Belaga DUN Service Centre are now working round the clock to send relief to some 200 Penan families who lost everything when fire destroyed their longhouse in Long Kajang last week.
           The relief team is also putting together for some Penans at Long Luar(located nera the Murum Dam's construction site) whose longhouse was also gutted by fire recently.
           Belaga state assemblyman Liwan Lagang said the Welfare Department had approved some relief fund and the cheque was in the lidst of being cleared.
          “After hearing of fires at the two Penan longhouses, both located in the deep interior of Kapit Division, our people in DUN Belaga People's Service Centre have been working extra hard to come up with a rapid response to help those affected”he said when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.
          ”Once the cheque is cleared, either by today or tomorrow(August 13),we will start buying food, medical supplies,clothing, cooking utensils,mattress,blanket,petrol and other important items.
          “We will also buy building material to enable them(victims) to re-build their long house ,:he explained.
            Liwan, however,said the task of sending the relief would not be an easy one.The relief team would have to,among others,endure more than a day's journey through logging tracks to reach Long Kajang.
            “There is no doubt that the trip will be dangerous and a gruelling one. I'm going along to accompany the relief team. We have prepared several four-wheeled-drive vehicles to undertake the task ahead,”he said.
             Liwan said most likely depart Bintulu tomorrow,travel along Jalan Bakun make a short stopover at Sungai Asap Resettlement,then travel upriver through logging roads to Long Kajang.
           “Our focus is on helping the Penans.They should be helped regardless of where the are staying,”Liwan stressed.
            Long Kajang is situated near the Sarawak Kalimantan border in Kapit Division.It is understood that the victims are now staying in makeshift huts.

The Borneo Post,Friday (August13,2010)