An elected Orang Ulu representative has warned that the indigenous community's culture will face extinction "unless concrete steps are taken to address the problem" the preference for western values over their own roots.

Barisan Nasional state assemblyperson for Telang Usan, Lihan Jok said the Orang Ulu, who represent 10 percent of Sarawak's 2.2 million population, could lose their ethnic identity in a decade or so if nothing is done to preserve their culture.

The warning comes amid, what is seen as, 'negative social changes' taking place in the community which comprises more than two dozen tribal groups including the Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Murut, Penan and Berawan.

These changes are more prominent among the younger generation as a result of their migration to urban areas.

The state government's move to open up large tracts of customary rights land estimated to be more than three million hectares and to establish what is known as rural growth centres is partly to forestall the rapid migration.

At present, about 60 percent of Sarawak's population resides in rural areas.

Many youths have abandoned their longhouses or kampungs for education and employment, leaving only the elderly and children behind.

Losing identity

Lihan Jok, a university graduate who chose a teaching career in rural Baram before being picked by Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) to contest in last year's state elections, was quoted in in today's Borneo Post as saying: "In our quest for material wealth, we have become complacent to the fact that we are losing our ethnic identity."

"We are on the urge of cultural extinction as a community if we don't do something drastic to reverse the trend," he added.

The BN politician said this when officiating a Long Bedian community annual dinner at a hotel in Miri on Monday night.

Also present were Kayan community leaders Pemanca Baya Ajang, Penghulu Ngau Ajang and Long Bedian headman TK Laing Jok.

Four ways

The former school headmaster outlined four ways to preserve their identity and culture:

  • Use ethnic names for all Orang Ulu children so that they can be easily identified as belonging to the community.

  • Urban Orang Ulu should maintain links with their respective longhouses
    • .

  • Increase the number of Orang Ulu intellectuals who can contribute to government policy-making decision
    • .

  • The various Orang Ulu ethnic groups should organise more cultural-based activities so members of the younger generation can identify with their cultures.

    • "What is very sad nowadays is that the majority of our educated young people prefer to give western names like John and Wilson to their children, without even inserting ethnic names on official documents," said Lihan Jok.

    He also stressed that urban Orang Ulu should visit their longhouses at least once a year as this would go a long way in preserving their cultural values and identity among the community.

    "There are some Orang Ulu who have not gone back to their longhouses for over 20 years," he said.