The following is the press statement by Donny Dhwie, the Punan National Association Secretary:

Tuesday, 06 May 2008

PRESS STATEMENT
Punan oldest longhouse destroyed by fire

Punan Bah, Punan largest and oldest longhouse in Sarawak was destroyed by ragging fire yesterday. The longhouse which is a about 80 KM from Kapit, is consist of 4 blocks of longhouses next to each other. Each block has more than 12 unit/rooms. The longhouse total population is approximately 800 – 1000 people. The tragedy have made more than 300 of them without home.

Traditionally the Punan, at Bah area were farmers, but in recent years, many have migrated to urban areas such as Sibu, Bintulu, Kuching and Kuala Lumpur to escape rural poverty.

The fire started at around noon last Monday from one of the unit took less than 30 minutes to raze down three blocks of the four unit longhouses. The remaining longhouse which is about 60 meter away from the three longhouse were safe.

Also destroyed were four keliriengs or “burial poles”. The four “Keliriengs” believed to be at more than 200 years old each, were among the oldest “keliriengs” found in the whole of Sarawak. Kelirieng a uniquely Punan custom was built as a “burial place” for Punan aristocrats and leaders.

Punan National Association estimated more than half a million worth of personal properties were loss in the fire. The longhouse which were gradually rebuilt in favor of slightly modern structure made of belian and cement completed in 2000. The old longhouse were entirely made of solid wooden structure mostly “belian”.

It is time that the government consider helping the Punan communities by setting up up “rural firefigther (BOMBA) in our longhouses to prevent similar accident from recurring. At present none of Punan longhouses have any fire prevention measure in place.

Earlier this year another Punan longhouse – Punan Biau, about 20 minutes away from Punan Bah was also razed by fire. They have seen sheltering with relatives, while slowly rebuilding their longhouse. We hope relevant authorities would do something to help us.

How you can help?

You can help the fire victims by donating clothes, foodstuff, toys for kids, household appliances, stoves, and logitics. Punan National Association in collaboration with relevant authorities are working closely to coordinate relieve efforts.

* 013-8230 155 Mr Donny Dhwie – Kuching.
* 019-8550 910 Mr Calvin Jemarang – Bintulu
* 019 8183 367 Mr Paren Balan – Sibu
* 013 2235 114 Mr Daniel Batin – Miri
* 019 897 9447 Mr Johnny Adin – Kota Kinabalu
* 013 308 6748 / 013 571 3207 Mr Lida /Jalil – Kuala Lumpur

• source: Punan Community Website Blog

Punan Bah Longhouse on fire – Video (sourced from punan.info on May 13, 2008)

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Related Links:
• Punan Community Website
• “Ancient Totems Ruined”
• “Longhouses Razed in fire.”