20/05/2008: Leaders urged to instil displine

• the image of  longhouses or reputation of  leaders would be tarnished if their charges were  caught for involvement in criminal activities.

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• Picture: Tiong cutting the ribbon at Rh. Bukong, Setiam area.

• Picture: Tiong addressing at Rh. Bukong during the “Leader meet the people” dialogue session.

Bintulu Member of Parliament, Dato Seri Tiong King Sing said the image of  longhouses or reputation of  leaders would be tarnished if their charges were  caught for involvement in criminal activities.

Tiong cited a recent case where several underage teenagers  from certain longhouses were caught by police for involvement in a series of motorcycle thefts.

He said this also reflected  the failure  of  the Tuai Rumah or leaders of the JKKKs to inculcate good moral values, especially among the young generation in their community.

Tiong suggested that the JKKKs  or headmen  invite police officers to  give talk on crimes and the penalties to be meted out for committing certain offences.

He believed such an approach would deter youths from committing crime.

Tiong was speaking  at a ‘Leader Meet The People ‘ session organised by the Special Affairs Department of Bintulu at Rumah Bunkong at Sungei Setiam in Kuala Tatau yesterday morning.

Earlier, the Member of Parliament  declared open the newly  tar-sealed road leading to Rumah Bunkong.

Tiong also called on experienced or senior civil servants to attend such functions.

“They must be present  to  address problems raised by the rural folks,” he added.

Among the issues raised were failure of relevant authorities to supply longhouses with water tanks to collect rain water  and encroachment of private firms into their Native Customary Right Land, birth certificates  and request for clean water supply.