First engineer appointed longhouse chief
Published: Aug 2, 2010 2:41 PM | Updated: Aug 2, 2010 4:22 PM
Stanley Jelian Entily, 30, created a history of sorts in the state by becoming the first engineer to be appointed as an Iban longhouse chief or "tuai rumah".
Stanley, who had graduated as a civil engineer from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Johor, works with Sarawak Energy Berhad.
Stanley Jelian Entily, 30, created a history of sorts in the state by becoming the first engineer to be appointed as an Iban longhouse chief or "tuai rumah".
Stanley, who had graduated as a civil engineer from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Johor, works with Sarawak Energy Berhad.
He received his letter of appointment from district officer Wong See Meng today.
The longhouse named Rh Stanley Jelian is situated in Penasu near Sibu. It is named after him, as is the tradition among the Iban community, and has 14 families comprising about 80 people.
He speaks fluent Chinese, English, Bahasa Malaysia and Iban.
"I studied Chinese until Form Four at SMK Chung Hua here," he said when met after the ceremony, adding that he was first unofficially appointed as the chief when he was only 26, after his mother who was then the longhouse chief had passed away.
His father, who was the first choice to replace her, had declined the appointment.
"But because of the state government's minimum age requirement (30 years) for longhouse chiefs, I could only be confirmed now.
"Through the appointment, I hope to help my community by stressing on education particularly among the young.
"Of course I will also want to see clinics and a library besides good roads in my area which is a rural area," he said.
Stanley joins a rare breed of professionals and graduates who have started taking up the challenge of leading their respective longhouses since the state government started appointing retired teachers and civil servants as longhouse chiefs, taking over from their less educated fathers and leaders.
- Bernama
Stanley, who had graduated as a civil engineer from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Johor, works with Sarawak Energy Berhad.
He received his letter of appointment from district officer Wong See Meng today.
The longhouse named Rh Stanley Jelian is situated in Penasu near Sibu. It is named after him, as is the tradition among the Iban community, and has 14 families comprising about 80 people.
He speaks fluent Chinese, English, Bahasa Malaysia and Iban.
"I studied Chinese until Form Four at SMK Chung Hua here," he said when met after the ceremony, adding that he was first unofficially appointed as the chief when he was only 26, after his mother who was then the longhouse chief had passed away.
His father, who was the first choice to replace her, had declined the appointment.
"But because of the state government's minimum age requirement (30 years) for longhouse chiefs, I could only be confirmed now.
"Through the appointment, I hope to help my community by stressing on education particularly among the young.
"Of course I will also want to see clinics and a library besides good roads in my area which is a rural area," he said.
Stanley joins a rare breed of professionals and graduates who have started taking up the challenge of leading their respective longhouses since the state government started appointing retired teachers and civil servants as longhouse chiefs, taking over from their less educated fathers and leaders.
- Bernama
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