Jabu (centre) posing with the VIPs and Penan community leaders upon his arrival at Long Latei RSC.

MARUDI: The Barisan Nasional (BN) government is serious in wanting to develop the Penan community and its leaders mean what they say when they promise projects.

It was for this very reason that he made a visit to Long Latei, a Penan village in Apoh, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, adding it was his second visit to a Penan village.

He said his first visit was in December 2012.

“I promised a Rural Service Centre (RSC) for the Penan Community in Apoh in December, 2012 and now the promise is fulfilled with the completion of the RSC at a cost of more than RM700,000 by the government through Samling.

“Now the Penans have one Temenggong, one Pemanca and eight Penghulu,” he said when declaring open the Rural Service Centre at Long Latei on Wednesday.

The ceremony was attended by about 800 Penans from 21 longhouses in the area.

Jabu, who is the Minister of Rural Development, told the Penans that they were never neglected by the government.

As proof, he disclosed that the government would build another secondary school for them, including the Saban and Kelabit communities, living in Long Banga, Long Peluan, Long Beruang, Long Balong, Long Lamei and in the surrounding areas.

He also said, through the government’s assistance, there were now 69 Penan graduates and 79 were now studying in ICTS and 20 at the Teacher Training Institute in Miri and one Penan girl recently received the Chief Minister’s Award.

He was happy to note that 90 per cent of the Penans now supported BN. However, he reminded them to remain steadfast with the government and not be influenced by the promises of the opposition so that more development projects can be brought to them.

At the same time, he tasked Penan community leader Temenggong Datuk Hassan Sui to convince the Penans in Selunggo to support the BN government.

On a related matter, he suggested that the Penan community set up a cooperative canteen as an income-generating venture.

He was happy to note that some 100 Penans had now turned to oil palm planting.

Later, he said he would consider the request to build a new bridge at Long Kevok as the old one had been swept away by strong current.

Those who spoke at the function were Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications) Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau and Hassan.

Present were Deputy State Secretary Datu Ose Murang, Agriculture Department director Datu Lai Kui Fung, Miri Resident Anthonio Kathi Galis, political secretary to the chief minister Robert Laing Anyie, senator Datuk Lihan Jok and Orang Ulu community leaders.