MIRI: The government is bringing in development to the rural areas of Baram and Belaga with the intention to create better standard of living and enough jobs for the people there.

Once all the facilities and amenities are in place, residents there will be able to experience a much comfortable life without having to migrate to the cities and leave their hometown.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the bigger task, however, is to help rural folks understand the government’s sincere intention in helping them prosper in their own area.

“That is why we are adopting an open-approach with the people. We want to know their weaknesses and difficulties, because we want to identify ways to develop their areas and help them improve their living standard,” he said.

Taib said this in his officiating address at the launching of a two-day Orang Ulu Culture Symposium 2013, which started at Miri Civic Centre last Friday.

Also present were Assistant Minister of Culture and Heritage Liwan Lagang, Assistant Minister of Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Deputy State Secretary Ose Murang, Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supply) Sylvester Entry Muran, Baram MP Anyi Ngau, Batu Danau Assemblyman Paulus Palu Ngumbang, Senator Lihan Jok as well as president of Federation of Orang Ulu Association Sarawak Malaysia (Forum) Gerawat Gala.

According to Taib, the government is in the planning stage of turning Baram into a proper town with better amenities and facilities as well as enough job opportunities.

“There are many graduates and PhD holders from among the Orang Ulu community. Many have migrated to the cities as well as overseas which offers them good income.

“This is a good thing, but it would be better if their ideas and intelligences can be used in their own areas in Baram and Belaga to help develop their own Orang Ulu community.

In view of this, he said the government is making efforts to turn Baram into a town with plenty of job opportunities so that Baram youths can contribute to their hometown and their community.

He explained that several development approaches being implemented included the opening of timber areas, oil palm estates, Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and hydroelectric projects.

All the efforts, he added, are designed towards changing the future of rural folks to a better socio-economy and living standard, without detaching them from their culture and native community.

“We want to create awareness among the people that this the first stage of development and to prevent them from losing their voice and culture in the process of development.

“For this, the state government is looking into a balanced approach on how to bring in these developments effectively, to change the Baram and Belaga into better towns,” he disclosed.

Taib also appealed to Orang Ulu intellectuals to come forward and support the government’s objective in transforming their state and areas.

Baram is populated by more than 60,000 people of various Orang Ulu ethnics while Belaga is home to over 40,000 members of the Orang Ulu community.

A total of 10 working papers on various issues concerning the Orang Ulu were presented throughout the symposium.