All 73 Penan families from Long Tangau and Long Menapa in Belaga, affected by the Murum hydro electric project (HEP), have begun moving into their new homes in the newly-built resettlement village in Metalun, beginning Saturday.

Their relocation is part of the Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) relocation exercise.

Sarawak Energy’s senior manager (II) for corporate social responsibility Jiwari Abdullah said the company was glad residents from the two villages had decided to move in, and was looking forward to the other two remaining villages at Long Luar and Long Singu, to be relocated in the next few days.

“In fact, the majority of those who participated in the recent blockade were from Long Tangau and Long Menapa, and, we are glad they have given their full support to relocate after numerous engagements with them,” he said in a statement in Kuching today.

Under the Murum Resettlement Action Plan, families living in Metalun will receive immediate benefits, including clean water and electricity, besides enjoying various economic benefits and assistance, such as temporary income support of RM850 per month, and access to medical care and education that are designed to lift them above the poverty line.

“We are also looking at implementing a number of community development and entrepreneurship aquaculture programmes to train the Penans to be self-sustainable,” he said, adding that initiatives, including the Home Garden Programme - a training course on agriculture, farming and food processing - and the Murum Penan Literacy Programme were some of the assistance offered to them.

The exercise, which started in early September this year, involved the successful resettlement of 161 families to the Tegulang Resettlement Village in Belaga.

- Bernama