By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Oct 18: Visitors to the small town of Long Bedian may be surprised to see that most of the shopkeepers here are from the Kayan community.
This situation is relatively rare and unique as in most parts of rural Sarawak, shopkeepers are usually from the Chinese community.
As such, Long Bedian’s resilient traders caught the attention of this DayakDaily reporter when buying some provisions at the commercial centre while on a trip with Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) for the ‘Memacu Kehidupan’ Community Technology Outreach Programme (CTOP) in the Kayan heartland of Telang Usan.
Trader and resident, 78-year-old Ngau Oyok Ubang, when met today, revealed that he and his family have been trading since the mid-1990s.
Most of the shops in Long Bedian sell products, ranging from items for everyday needs to hardware. Much like many other stores found across rural Sarawak.
Ngau Oyok said before establishing these shops, most of the traders here were farmers.
“When our community leaders and people’s representatives saw our eagerness to do business, we took up the challenge, and now we have over 30 shoplots in Long Bedian.
“Before, it was difficult for all the communities living in the district of Telang Usan to come to the nearest town for all the provisions we needed because of accessibility.
“But now, we have what we want and are building the business, and hopefully the socio-economic well-being of our community in rural Sarawak and the surrounding areas.
“The business community also thanks the Sarawak government for helping us to be where we are today,” he said.
Ngau Oyok said improving business conditions has translated into better socio-economic status in recent years and his family’s life is also much better.
“Most of my six children and relatives have a better life. I have a daughter who holds a high position as a government servant.
“At the moment, my wife and one of my sons help me. We are still learning the trade and how to sustain the business,” he said.
Long Bedian, in the sub-district of Telang Usan, is about an hour-and-twenty-minutes’ drive from Long Lama town in Miri. — DayakDaily
