Balang saddened by few who got drunk or got into fights

MIRI: Ba Kelalan assemblyman Nelson Balang Rining is unhappy with several community leaders who fail to set good example to their charges.

“It is sad to see a few community leaders of the Lun Bawang to be drunk in public. This is not good as it is not of our lifestyle. Many are also known to be involved in fighting over the ownership of native customary land.”

Such inappropriate behaviour he added would not bode well for the community and at the same time it portrayed the appointed community leaders in a negative light, noting that fights could always be resolved amicably through the native court.

He said this before handing over appointment letter to Pemanca Henry Jala Tamalai at the Resident’s Office here yesterday. Seventy-five-year-old Henry is the second Pemanca for the Kelabit community. The first one was Pemanca Ngimat Ayu.

Henry’s two-year tenure as Pemanca commenced on June 25 this year. Prior to this, he was a Penghulu since Sept 2, 1998.

On another matter, Balang urged the Rurum Kelabit Sarawak to request for the post of Temenggong to be created for the Kelabit community, adding that he would also play his part by ‘pushing for it’ in the State Legislative Assembly.

Thus far, Pemanca is the highest-ranked community leader for the Kelabit.

Balang noted that community leaders including Pemanca was one of three vital components of the State government after the elected people’s representatives and Residents, and he was looking forward to co-operate with community leaders in looking after the welfare of the people.

Henry meanwhile, in describing himself as a bridge between the old and young, expressed the hope that the young generation would continue to preserve the culture and customs of the Kelabit people as they reflected their identity.

He also called on the younger generation to contribute to the State and to stand solidly behind the Barisan Nasional and not to be easily influenced by certain irresponsible quarters who merely knew how to criticise.