By DayakDaily Team
SARIKEI, Dec 1: Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang has urged the Iban community to preserve traditional wooden longhouses in Sarawak, emphasising their potential to be repurposed as homestays or tourist attractions, generating economic opportunities for rural communities.
He noted that modern longhouses are capable of inspiring interest and enthusiasm, providing a positive impact on the younger generation to maintain the tradition of returning to the longhouse during festivals or gatherings.
“However, traditional wooden longhouses should not be neglected, even though many are transitioning to more durable brick structures.
“Old longhouses can be developed into economic assets by transforming them into accommodation or homestays for tourists from within or outside Sarawak,” he said when speaking at a pre-Christmas event at Rh Fabian Unggang Pandang, KM25 Jalan Julau-Entabai, Sungai Sapi, yesterday (Nov 30).
Reflecting on Sarawak’s development, Gira highlighted the Sarawak government’s rural-focused budget under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He also encouraged Julau residents to continue supporting their local assemblyman, Roland Duat Jubin, in efforts to improve infrastructure, including a proposal for a petrol station in Julau.
At the same time, he expressed full support to Sarawak Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, that Sarawak should retain all types and levels of examinations as they currently exist.
This follows the Education Ministry’s decision to abolish exam-oriented learning for school students to reduce their stress.
The pre-Christmas event concluded with Gira distributing Rural Transformation Programme (MRP) allocations to Rumah Fabian Unggang, local sports associations, and 14 surrounding longhouses. — DayakDaily
