BELAGA: About 8,000 Kenyahs from four longhouses in Belaga laid claim on their ancestral land through a resolution to the land and survey department with the hope of jointly developing their land for their future generations.
Initially, only two longhouses joint forces but later two other longhouses were included reflecting a strong sense of unity among the Kenyahs in Belaga to work together to get things done.
“We wish to develop our land in line with the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) projects like fish rearing, planting of coconuts, ecotourism, goat and cow rearing. We welcome interested parties who wish to develop our area, but they must discuss and sign any memorandum of understanding with the joint committee first,” said the secretary of the joint committee of Lebu Kulit, Uma Bakah, Uma Balui Ukap and Uma Lesong Dennis Hang Bilang.
The resolution was handed over to the Kapit Land and Survey department superintendent Alfian Bawi during a simple ceremony on 28 April 2010 at Uma Bakah Belaga.
Present were the deputy chairman Edin Anyie and several Kenyah community leaders from the four longhouses.
Through the joint committee, Dennis said the Kenyahs in Belaga can together with the other communities in the state enjoy the rapid pace of development that is now taking place.
“We can develop our land like the rest in the state if our claim to our ancestral land is recognised. Our ancestors were given the land during the Brooke rule in the early 1950s and we have the map to show the land that were given to our ancestors,” said Dennis.
“We want to seize every business opportunities once the Bakun Dam on like going into fish rearing and tourism,” he added. ENDS.
Caption: RESOLUTION FOR A BETTER FUTURE: Edin (centre) with the committee members showing the resolution before handing it over to the department for consideration.
