Strong supporters from the people of Long Lama during the regatta

Long Lama town celebrated its 100 th years in existence (1905 – 2005), late October this year. The auspicious celebration was indeed the proudest moment of the various ethnic people of Long Lama, especially for the Orang Ulu and the Chinese community there. Various activities were organized in conjunction with the celebration such as ‘white water rafting’, power boat/speed boat race, radio-controlled boat race, paddling competition, and also cultural performance night of Orang Ulu ‘ ngajat’ accompanied by the captivating sound of ‘ sape’ as well as a unique Orang Ulu dance called ‘ datun julut’.

The celebration was held to give a special tribute to the harmonious relationship between the Orang Ulu people and the Chinese community in Long Lama who have been living peacefully since 1905. It was around that year that the business premises in Long Lama town started its operation. The small town established as business premises in 1905 after a few Chinese from the China mainland came and introduced the barter trade system with locals, mostly the Kayans.

Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr.George Chan at the launching of the celebration

Over the years, Long Lama had witnessed many changes that include social and physical development, particularly when the mission schools and national schools started its operation.

The schools had produced quite a number of intellectuals ever since it provided education to the people of Long Lama. In the 70s’ this sub-district of Marudi was popular with timber products and attracted lots of people and timber companies to explore the timber business.

Beauties in their costumes

Apart from being a business hub, it was also the transit point for the Orang Ulu people who came down to Marudi and Miri for their official business as well as for personal matters, or visit. From there on, Long Lama, became a very busy town with outsiders coming in to work in the timber companies.

The increasing numbers of timber companies operating in Long Lama at that time had had more routes being constructed to transport the logs to the various log ponds. At the same time, these logging roads became the ‘doors’ to other places and thus allowed more areas in the 19,300.03 square kilometres land explored. It is learnt that the population in Long Lama town itself is not less than 3000 people with the majority of Kayan/Kenyah, followed by Chinese and Iban.

Overall within the extensive land, the population in the sub-district of Marudi has reached 45,000 people. As the Rural Growth Centre (RGC), many positive developments have taken place in Long Lama. Among them are, JKR project of constructing road from Miri / Beluru / Lapok / Long Lama, which is about 134 kilometres Based on a report from the Long Lama Sub-District Office, Beluru / lapok road is gravel road, while from Lapok to Long Lama road is still under construction by a contractor.

The minority Iban in Long Lama are also taking their chance to play their traditional ‘ngajat ’ music at the arrival of the VIPs

Currently, only logging road, which is being taken care by a plantation company that connects Beluru to Long Lama. The earth-surfaced road is in the distance of 14 kilometres. The present plantation companies are actively planting oil palm as well as constructing oil mills. Such industry has also helped Long Lama to upgrade the living standard of its people by creating more employment for the locals, including the Penan from the interior part of Long Lama who mostly work at the logging companies.

The significant event was actually the brainchild of the community leaders and it was officiated by the Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, on 28 th October 2005. Member of Parliament for Telang usan (N.59), Lihan Jok chaired and led the organising committee, while the Ministry of Social and Urban Development supported in term of financial assistance. Other government agencies involved in making the event a success were the Resident Office in Miri, District Office of Marudi, Road & Transport Department (JKR), SESCO, Sarawak Rivers Board, the Fire
Services Department, Health Department as well as other private companies in the town.

	You don ’t get to see the ‘sape ’ players rendering beautiful music in the streets of Kuching,but only in Long Lama
Among the boats taking part in the regatta Among the boats taking part in the regatta

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