BINTULU-The Member of Parliament here, Dato' Seri Tiong King Sing has regretted the actions by certain longhouse chiefs in Jalan Bintulu-Tatau here who have been provocating their followers to confront the government to meet their demands.

He said these longhouse leaders had instigated their people to set up blockades to prevent government projects from being implemented merely to show their dissatisfaction with the compensation that they had agreed previously.

"Rather than to make things better, these longhouse leaders were only inciting hates among the people and putting them in loggerheads with the government," he said when speaking at a dialogue session at Rh Isa, Km 50, Jalan Bintulu-Tatau here recently.

Setting up blockades or any other kind of confrontational measures should not be taken as the ultimate measures as according to Tiong, there were sufficient rooms for them to negotiate with the government in a legal and peaceful manner.

Calling the longhouse residents to strive for a win-win situation in any attempt to end a dispute, he urged them to learn from the bitter lesson experienced by the people from two longhouses in Ulu Niah back in 1999.

The incident, which was aggravated by the longhouse leaders, had led to not only bloodshed but also difficulties to the other longhouse resident to continue their livelihood after most of those involved were their breadwinners.

He believed that the tragedy could have been avoided if all the people could discuss and promote mutual understanding so the needs and requirements of all parties could be fulfilled and the results would be of common benefits.

In carrying out the negotiation, he urged the longhouse residents to fully understand the nature and consequences of the agreement before endorsing them to avoid dissatisfactions thereafter.

The Member of Parliament also urged the longhouse folks to look at a greater picture of the development programme by the government that was sincerely meant to raise their living standard.

He anticipated that the proposed coastal road that would link Kuala Tatau to here would be able to generate more income for the people along the areas involved once the project is completed.

Among the areas poised to grow would be Sungai Sebemban and Kuala Setiam of which the road constructed would facilitate for the transportation of goods as well as the people, particularly during emergency cases.

Since being elected as the Member of Parliament here, Tiong knew that these areas could only be reached by a 45-minute speedboat ride across the sea and he was aware of the difficulties and limitations faced by the people.

He also explained that the coastal road would further opened up the areas and definitely would adding values to the lands owned by the people there and thus offering an opportunity for them to raise their economic standard.