The huge Baram district in the Miri Division, home to the colourful indigenous tribal people have one identifiable industry that has the potential to attract world attention-tourism based on the unique cultures of the indigenous people themselves.
“The asset of the indigenous people is their colourful and interesting cultures. If we can market the culture of our indigenous people in Baram to the outside world, we can attract tourists who are interested in the cultures and traditions of the indigenous people. I believe our people can take part in this industry and will directly benefit from it. Our people cannot possibly take part in oil palm plantation industry because this industry require big capital and expertise,” said the Telang Usan assemblyman Lihan Jok.
He said this when officiating the Orang Ulu Tradition Dance Documentation Workshop recently.
Present also were the organising chairperson Elizabeth Deng, the paramount chief of the Orang Ulu Miri Division Temenggong Pahang Ding, the executive secretary of Social Development and Urbanisation Council Aisyah Idris, the assistant secretary from the Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation Usop Kilat and the researcher from the council Knot Atok.
The workshop, jointly organised by the council and the federation of orang ulu associations Malaysia (FORUM) was attended by about 50 participants from the various ethnic Orang Ulu associations.
Lihan said for the indigenous people to realize the dream of the Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib of one industry one division, they have to focus on what they have at hand, that is their rich culture.
Taib recently said he mooted the idea of “one industry for one division” with the hope of improving the livelihood of the people, particularly those in rural areas.
He urged political leaders in all divisions to identify the industries with the potentials to bring the most benefit to the people.
He was quoted as saying, “We need to bring the people to get involved in our development process, so it be good if we can have one industry for one division,”.
Baram itself had seen the timber industry booming in the early 1980s and now the oil palm industry being carried by giant companies.
But the indigenous people living in Baram especially the semi-nomadic Penans opposed such industries in the past because they felt displaced and marginalised by such developments taking place in their areas.
Touching on the workshop, Lihan said it was timely and appropriate to be held so that a consensus can be reached among the diverse Orang Ulu ethnic groups as to the dance to be performed during official functions like welcoming dignitaries.
“We do not want our traditional dance like the Datun Julud and Liling to be adulterated with the passing of time,” said Lihan.ENDS.
Caption: OUR CULTURE OUR PRODUCT: Lihan beating the gong to officiate the workshop witnessed by other invited guests.
