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 Down
the River
Trying for herself the basic transport facilities available to rural
communities, international women's squash player and UNDP
National Goodwill Ambassador Datuk Nicol David journeyed along
the Batang Rajang for many hours to the rural village of
Punan Bah, some 80km from Kapit. She urged communities not to
turn their backs on Mother Nature, which had for generations
supplied them with everything they needed.
At the aggregate level, Sarawak has an enviable record of
development and an overall poverty level of just 8 percent in 2004.
However, development in the rural areas has been less spectacular,
and the rural poverty rate was 14 percent in 2004. The poor
communities tend to be scattered along the state’s rivers or live in
forested areas.
Currently, UNDP and SRB are concluding the Sarawak Inland
Waterway Transport System (SIWT) Study. The two-year development
project seeks to enhance river transportation in the state and
support more effective use of water and related resources to
alleviate rural poverty, while improving environmental management
and contributing to the UN Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). |
Rapids
upstream Batang Rajang which can make navigation especially for
smaller boats dangerous
Nicol with Nicol Agoi of Sarawak Rivers
Board on route to Bakun. Nicol saw firsthand the challenges faced by
rural communities in traveling to and from their villages each day.
After the great fire - the Punan
kelirieng, which has been used for many generations as a burial pole
for the community. In the background, a family's laundry hangs out
to dry, a symbol of life moving on despite the hardships.
A Punan elder, with the characteristic
tattoos adorning her arms and feet, at the welcome reception.
Many of the younger generation no longer use tattoos or piercings as
symbols of beauty.
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School Trip
Nicol visited SK Punan Bah, a primary school lining the banks
of Sungai Punan, and read a story titled, “Togu and the Trees of
Life” to a group of delighted children during their afternoon
tutoring session.
Dressed comfortably in a sports top and track pants, she urged the
children not to turn their backs on Mother Nature, which had for
generations supplied communities in the state with everything they
needed, from wood for building their homes, food to line their
stomachs and medicines to heal ailments.
Imitating the voices of various animals dwelling in Sarawak’s
rainforests, such as the pygmy elephant, orang utan, and the
hornbill, she cautioned of the detrimental impact of economic
activities such as logging and palm oil which had caused the
deterioration in the quality of the rivers and deforestation, adding
that solutions could often be found when the authorities and
communities worked together.
Although the vast majority of Malaysian children finish primary
schooling, some children, particularly in rural areas, do not attend
school regularly and often drop out too early to help support their
families. In other situations, education is hindered by a lack of
finances for school fees and books and difficulty in traveling to
school.
“Education is a priceless investment in the lives of young people.
We must help them stay in school and finish their education so they
can have more options and build better lives for themselves.” |
Ancestral Graves
Nicol also visited the area clinic before spending the night with
the community at Punan Bah, which recently faced a tragedy
when a fire ravaged most of the longhouse including their prized
ancestral graves called the ‘keliriengs.’ She learned about
the customs and legends of the Punan community from some of the
village elders, and spent a lazy evening along the river bank,
watching the children play.
“Despite everything that had happened to the community, everyone was
just so hospitable and amazing.”
She particularly enjoyed dinner, when she was served a simple meal
of labang fish smoked in bamboo husk, stir-fried jungle fern and
heart of sago boiled in clear stock.
The team woke up early the next morning and traveled further
upstream towards Bakun, the site of Sarawak’s largest hydroelectric
dam, and traveled toward Bintulu before flying back to Kuching. |
Lunch and Learn ...
At the climax of her visit, Nicol brought together some 30 families
along the Kuching waterfront on board the MV Equatorial,
where she narrated the story of Togu once again and shared with them
how she rose to the top of the world’s women’s squash scene from her
humble beginnings learning the game in the public squash court in
her hometown.
“I was very fortunate to grow up in such a supportive and loving
family environment,” she said, adding that her family and friends
help to keep her grounded.
The event, called “Lunch and Learn on the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs)” also provided UNDP an opportunity to spotlight the
role that the youth can play in spearheading global efforts to end
poverty.
“We are the first generation with enough resources and knowledge to
end poverty in our lifetime. As youth, we must play an active role
in development, including taking care of the environment. When it
comes to the environment, every action counts.”
 Wrapping
up her visit to the state ahead of her training for the Malaysian
Open, she said that she hoped that the children would remember her
message of conservation. As the plane soared above the undulating
hills and network of rivers, she smiled and said, “Malaysia is truly
blessed, but we often forget how lucky we are." |
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Nicol
David: 
