(From left) Jabu, accompanied by Dr Ngenang and Lai, inspecting the chicks.

LONG BERUANG, Baram: Penan students in Baram set to graduate with a diploma or degree in the next four years have been promised a buffalo each.

This challenge was thrown by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, who is also Minister of Rural Development, during his working visit to Long Beruang Penan Rural Service Centre in the interior of Baram last weekend.

Deputy State Secretary Dato Ose Murang, Baram MP Anyi Ngau and Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, who accompanied Jabu during the visit, also joined the pledge of a buffalo for each Penan graduate in the next four years.

The deputy chief minister noted that there had been an encouraging number of Penan students enrolling in teachers training institutes (IPGs) this year.

“After completing their studies, they can be posted to schools with Penan students as they understand the need of their own community better.

“The children will also be able to accept Penan teachers more easily and the teachers could also be their mentors and source of inspiration.”

Jabu added that the communities in Long Beruang, particularly the Penans, were lucky to be provided with service centre which could improve their quality and standard of living.

The centre is equipped with health clinic, workshop to conduct home economics courses and handicraft, kindergarten and Internet.

“This facility goes to show government commitment to bring changes to the quality and standard of living among the community through education, economy and health.”

During the visit, Jabu also launched a chicken rearing project under the Department of Agriculture for the Penans in the area.

In the project, the community was divided into three groups of 23 individuals or families and each group was given 200 chicks to rear.

The department also allocated RM10,000 for each group to set up their farm and buy chicken feed.

The department would check the progress of the farms regularly and help them sell their chicken.

At the same function, Jabu also handed over banana and pineapple tissue culture saplings and vegetable seeds to participants of other projects.

Also present were Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture Datu Dr Ngenang Jangu, director of Agriculture Datu Lai Kui Fong and Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) chief executive chairman Tan Sri William Baya Dandut.