World Vision ambassador Angelica Lee Sinjie shares her experiences during a humanitarian trip to Mozambique in Africa.

One of the top five poorest countries in the world, Mozambique is poverty-stricken

ON the day I left Hong Kong, I was very sick. Kevin Chiu, CEO of World Vision Hong Kong, was worried about me and gave me some medication for my cold, during the flight. The medication must have made me drowsy and after a while, I dozed off.

I have visited many poverty-stricken countries as part of World Vision’s programme. The numerous trips have proven to be enlightening and enriching. The abject poverty I see around me has made me more determined to do my bit to help the needy.

On this trip, I brought my nephew, Han Han, along with me. I have watched Han Han grow up and treat him like my own son. I am reminded of how my grandmother used to take me along on her visits to underprivileged families in the villages, when I was a kid. I felt it was time for Han Han, 13, to experience the same.

When I first mentioned the trip to Han Han, it didn’t take him long to decide to come along. It was going to be an eight-day visit to Africa. The 20-hour flight, bumpy ride to remote villages, and scorching sun did not deter Han Han.

Upon landing at the South African airport, we took the connecting flight to Maputo, capital of Mozambique. Once there, we visited the local headquarters of World Vision before we took a three-hour car ride and arrived at a small, remote town in the evening. We checked into a hotel for the night.

After dinner, I popped in a couple more pills for my cold, and went to bed early to prepare myself for the following day’s visit to six-year-old Celeste. I told Han Han we would be leaving at 4am the next day, and he promptly went to bed.

The next morning, I felt better after a good night’s rest. We were well on our way to visit Celeste before dawn broke.

Celeste (left) and Lee Sinjie sharing a joyful moment together

Celeste’s parents had succumbed to illness, leaving her under the care of her 70-year-old grandmother. The small hut they lived in was made of mud and hay. Celeste’s father built it before he died.

I walked towards the house, and knocked on the wooden door. The door opened slowly.

It was dark inside as they had no electricity. Celeste was sleeping on a straw mat spread out on the red-clay floor. She rubbed her eyes as she sat up. Her grandmother was all smiles when she saw us.

Celeste stared at me with her big innocent eyes. She must have wondered whether she was still dreaming. I was drawn to her instantly.

Celeste led the way as we walked down a sandy road to a well constructed by World Vision. It is more than half an hour each way, and Celeste makes three trips to the well daily to fetch water for domestic use.

Celeste used all the strength in her tiny body to draw up water from the well. I joined her and filled a big bucket with water from the well. The locals who were queueing for their turn, had a good laugh when they saw me filling up the bucket in an awkward manner.

Under the fierce sun, Celeste carried the heavy bucket of water on her head as she walked barefooted on the hot sand.

What strong legs and arms she had, I thought to myself as I trailed behind her.

Lee Sinjie (left) trails after Celeste as the little girl leads the way

My heart ached when I thought of her plight. She had lost both parents before she was even old enough to talk. Her aging grandmother can barely afford to buy her a set of school uniform. The girl eats cassava with bitter leaves harvested by her grandmother, and helps gather mangoes and cashew nuts from the ground. When there is a drought, every meal is uncertain and many a time, she goes to bed hungry.

Celeste stopped and turned around to check on me. I was trying to balance the heavy bucket on my head. Sweat was streaming down my back. She waited until I caught up with her. We walked on in silence, united by a bond that transcends words.

After a delightful lunch, we drove to the graveyard where Celeste’s parents were laid to rest. We offered a prayer and some flowers. With the help of a translator, I chatted with Celeste’s grandmother. While we were chatting, Celeste sat down at my foot, quietly following our conversation as she played with my fingers. I stroked her cheek and looked into her eyes which mirrored the innocence of the young.

Her grandmother shared her fears with me. She expressed her concern for Celeste. Who would look after the child when she is gone?

I decided to help raise Celeste by sponsoring her. She is my 21st sponsored child. After spending several hours with her, my heart began to ache when it was time for me to leave.

I used hand gestures to tell Celeste that we had to leave. The smile on her face vanished, and she gripped my hand as we walked towards the car. Suddenly, with a loud cry, she hugged me and burst into tears. I could not hold back my tears, and cried as I hugged her.

However, I left her comforted by the assurance that Celeste was under the World Vision Child Sponsorship Programme. She would be in good hands as the World Vision staff would visit her and look into her needs.

A report of her progress and health will be sent to me every year. I can still communicate with Celeste through letters to ensure that she receives a proper education and grows up healthy.

Mozambique is among the top five poorest countries in the world. After gaining independence from Portugal, the country was impoverished by years of civil war. There are signs of prosperity in the capital city where beautiful Portuguese-style buildings stand as a reminder of the country’s colonial past.

But once you leave the city, tracts of uncultivated land stretch as far as the eye can see. Small huts dot the sparse landscape. We were told the government lacked funds to cultivate the land for agricultural purposes. As much as 20% of the population has contracted HIV/AIDS, causing many children like Celeste to be orphaned.

I visited two sisters. When the older girl was six, her father died and she had to look after her critically ill mother and her three-year-old sister. After six years, their mother passed away, leaving the two sisters to fend for themselves.

The girls are 16 and 13 now. They sleep on a straw mat in their bare hut. When it rains, the roof leaks badly. The girls survive on cassava given by kind neighbours.

Since its establishment in 1950, World Vision has been helping impoverished communities in many corners of the earth. World Vision has initiated 38 projects in Mozambique, benefiting 2,000 to 4,000 people in each community. The projects stretch over a period of 10 to 15 years.

World Vision built wells in remote villages to provide access to drinking water for destitute communities.

They built schools for the children so that they did not have to study in huts with roofs that could be lifted by strong winds. Medical centres were set up to make medical treatment accessible to the sick. Pregnant women were spared from having to trek long distances to get to a hospital. Villagers were given opportunities to generate income to support their families. Local communities were being educated about HIV/AIDS.

Han Han did not complain throughout the trip. He endured the hot weather and adapted well to the busy schedule. He even played football with the village kids and picked mangoes with them.

The local children and Han Han (right) bonded instantly

On the last day of our trip, Han Han decided to sponsor a six-year-old orphan with his own pocket money.

This trip was our first together. I am glad we were able to share this invaluable experience which nurtured our understanding of humanity.

As we walked forward, I saw pain, sorrow and helplessness, but I also saw empathy, hope and a love that transcends barriers. When I spread my arms to embrace these innocent children and felt the warmth of their love and bodies, I realised what happiness means. – Angelica Lee Sinjie

Map: Mozambique, Africa

The post Lee Sinjie’s humanitarian trip to Mozambique appeared first on allMalaysia.info - allMalaysia.info - Anything, Everything, All About Malaysia.

Would you think twice about paying an extra ringgit for organic products if it was for a good cause?

When it comes to organically-grown food, the question is no longer: “Are they better for you?” Instead, people are asking: “Are they worth the premium price?”

Never mind that scientific evidence has shown that organic products are indeed the healthier alternative; many still write them off as a mere “lifestyle choice”.

Only one in five Malaysians are willing to fork out more for them, according to the Nielsen 2011 Global Online Environment and Sustainability Survey, which polled over 25,000 Internet respondents in 51 countries.

But what if we told you that by paying RM3 more for a bag of organic vegetables, you are potentially helping to support the livelihood of the less fortunate?

That’s precisely what’s happening at the Badan Amal Nur Zaharah in Janda Baik, Pahang.

The Badan Amal Nur Zaharah welfare home is surrounded by a sea of green that is put to good use: the home grows organic vegetables and fruits for its own use and for sale.

Just 40 minutes’ drive from Kuala Lumpur, Janda Baik is a quiet enclave located in the heart of Banjaran Titiwangsa. It is here that Nur Zaharah, established in 2005 by chairperson Datin Norjan Noor, serves as a welfare home for children and young adults between the age of four and 20.

At a glance, the boy’s home at Kampung Chemperoh (the girls live apart at Kampung Sum Sum Hilir) seems ordinary enough, consisting of a simple white-washed double-storey building with walkways that circle the upper tier. Instead of a garden, however, the home is surrounded by a field that stretches out on slightly more than half a hectare of land. Half of this sea of green is used, not as a football field for the boys as most would expect but, as an organic farm that helps generate a modest income for the organisation.

“We grow a variety of leafy vegetables like kailan, sawi and siu pak choy,” says manager Yahya Yusof, 29, who runs the home and farm. Once a week, hired workers will transport boxes containing 3kg worth of fresh produce, via motorcycle, direct to their customers’ doorsteps – all 30 of them who reside in KL.

“Instead of depending solely on public donations, we decided early on that we wanted to do something more proactive to support the centre,” explains Yahya, who obtained a degree in Islamic law from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia in Nilai, Negri Sembilan. Upon graduation, he came to learn of the need for self-sustainable orphanages in the country and was keen on seeing what he could do to help.

Badan Amal Nur Zaharah home manager, Yahya Yusof tending to the passion fruit.

The father of two then took on the task of heading Nur Zaharah, but not before he had spent some time in Singapore learning about how to better manage welfare homes.

Every month, the farm draws an income of RM4,000 – a generous sum if one was feeding a family of four. But Nur Zaharah is home to 41 young residents. Running the centre requires RM25,000 a month.

As a symphony of bleating cuts through the air, Yahya reveals that for extra income, the home collects rental for a goat shed – and the farm uses the free organic goat manure to fertilise the crops.

Yahya says the home is “still surviving”, but adds that support is always welcome.

Apart from public and private contributions, Nur Zaharah is also banking on its newly-opened Coffee and Craft Shop to help bring in additional revenue. The shop, run by skilled personnel, offers java brewed from the farm’s own coffee beans, while the crafts are all-natural wood décor made from recycled materials.

Nutrition is usually a problem that plagues the underprivileged but it is hardly a problem at Nur Zaharah, as the home essentially grows its own food. And the air at Janda Baik is crisp and fresh, ideal even for growing children.

“Every Saturday, the kids will help in maintaining the farm. They seem to enjoy it. They were the ones who planted the passion fruit (vine),” Yahya says, pointing towards the robust green spheres that dangle intertwined with the iron fence.

Apart from contributions, Nur Zaharah is also banking its hopes on its Coffee and Craft Shop for additional revenue. The shop offers java brewed from the farm’s home-grown coffee beans, whilst the "craft" here refers to its all-natural wood décor made from recycled material.

Every child, it seems, has his or her own “tree”, in which they take great pride. When their tree bears fruit, the children feel a huge sense of achievement, not unlike the feeling one has after creating a masterpiece, says Yahya.

While organic farming is still a small industry worldwide – accounting for less than 2% of global retail production, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation – Nur Zaharah is certainly setting a good example when it comes to self-sustainability.

“My aim is that in 10 years’ time, the farm will be able to generate enough income to fully support the home,” Yahya says.

There is value in organic farming, and Nur Zaharah has found a way to maximise its benefits to support the welfare of the underprivileged. Their stance is not unlike the Organics 4 Orphans organisation (organics4orphans.org) founded in 2008 by Canadians Dale and Linda Bolton, which set out to teach communities in Africa how to grow high-quality organic food so that everyone could be fed. While their vision is to improve the health and lifestyle of orphans, they are also helping rural Africans to escape from extreme poverty.

Pricey though they may seem, organic products are, in more ways than one, life-savers. Doesn’t that say something about their worth? – By LEE MEI LI

This article won the Best Environment Story award at the HSBC-Wild Asia Responsible Journalists Programme held in Janda Baik, Pahang, in Oct 2010. The programme, in its second year, was designed to inspire and challenge journalists to look deeper into the root causes of environmental and social issues, to help them understand how the natural world interrelates with our daily lives.

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Take it slow

Home for useful wigglers

With Malaysia in the final stages of drafting a new law to increase the retirement age in the private sector from 55 to 60, retirees can look forward to the opportunity of working longer and earning more money.

Despite some mixed views on this, it is not difficult to see why there is a need to prolong the legal working age. In Singapore, the retirement age is set at 62, with countries such as Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia already observing 60 years as the official retirement age.

In a survey of 3,485 job seekers aged between 18 and 41 conducted by online recruitment company JobStreet.com in October last year, it was revealed that some 84% agreed with the retirement age extension because they felt they needed to work till they are older to get higher retirement savings due to the increase in life expectancy.

“With the average life expectancy of Malaysians at 74 years old, the average retiree will need sufficient cash to sustain them for at least 20 years,” an industry observer says.

According to data by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), about 73% of retirees have less than RM50,000 in their savings while only 17% have over RM100,000.

A 2003 survey by the EPF also revealed that 14% of its members used up all of their savings from EPF three years into retirement while another 70% used up their savings within 10 years.

Furthermore, according to reports, up to 99.9% of the contributors withdrew their EPF savings in a lump sum once they reached the age of 55.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations president Datuk N. Marimuthu says with many Malaysians today marrying at a later age, it is necessary to increase the retirement age.

“Many people marry and have children late in their lives. When they retire, their children are still young and they still need money to finance their children,” he says, adding that increasing the retirement age to 60 years is “practical”.

About 73% of retirees have less than RM50,000 in their savings while only 17% have over RM100,000.

Not too old to work?

AS Malaysia moves towards being an ageing society by 2030, with 15% of the population aged 60 and above, Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Shamsuddin Bardan says there will be a need to “properly manage and utilise the older employees”.

Malaysian Institute of Human Resource Management honorary general secretary J. Aresandiran says that with the local economy on a steady growth trajectory, the country cannot risk “too many people retiring”.

“There are many companies today that are having problems filling up their mid-management-level posts and are suffering. If they have the relevant skill, you should retain these people (retirees) or bring them back (if they have retired),” he says.

But will extending the retirement age means more job opportunities for the elderly?

“One needs to take into consideration the younger generation that is coming into the workforce, many of whom are able to take on jobs that are more physically demanding,” says one industry observer.

Abdullah Busu Hanifah, former chairman of the Incorporated Society of Planters, says it is a good idea to bring back skilled retirees.

“This is especially for professionals. If they have the skills, why not (bring them back)?”

Abdullah Busu notes that the plantation industry is facing a shortage of “competent people.”

“Many of the planters were trained from the pre-World War 2 era. It’s a hands-on job, set in a rural area and we don’t get many people from the newer generation coming into this line,” he says.

Shamsuddin, however, believes that the issue of dealing with physically-demanding jobs can be “compensated”.

“The older employees can offer higher skills and a wealth of experience and these attributes will compensate for the expected lower physical strength. There is, therefore, a critical need for the country to set up the appropriate policy on the employment of older employees.

“The younger employees may resent the move to increase the existing retirement age. However, it is critical that we review our existing retirement age and with proper implementation such move would not be to the disadvantage of the younger workers,” he says.

Shamsuddin, however, admits that older employees are more suitable to perform works that are not physically demanding.

“With use of some simple machines, older employees may be able to perform works deemed to be heavy. MEF is of the view that retirees from sectors that require heavy manual work such as plantation and construction should be retrained so that they may be able to take up jobs in other sectors after their retirement.”

Aresandiran observes there are still many people in their 50s and 60s who still take on heavy jobs. However, he says physically demanding work should be given to younger and more able-bodied individuals.

“It’s up to the company. They don’t necessarily have to give the tough jobs to the elderly people. These kind of skills can be passed on to the younger generation.”

Abdullah Busu concurs that retirees don’t necessarily have to retain their old positions.

“The retirees could be brought in to take on a consultancy or training position and pass on their knowledge to the younger employees,” he says.

On another note, Shamsuddin feels that increasing the retirement age will not increase the level of competitiveness of the local workforce, especially among the younger generation.

“We are relying too heavily on foreign workers. Thus, it is important for Malaysia to relook its manpower utilisation so as to ensure that the available human resources are utilised in an optimal way.

“Increasing the retirement age per say would not increase our competitiveness. However, with appropriate skills and up skilling of our entire workforce, labour productivity will be increased, and thus, our competitiveness will be enhanced,” he says.

Retirement age a non-issue?

For many people who choose to continue working past retirement age, the age limit is not necessarily an issue.

“If you’re enterprising enough, you could work from home or even start your own business,” says Janice Tam, a retired school teacher who now provides tuition classes for primary school kids.

“I think it’s a good move to increase the retirement age, given the high cost of living these days. But I feel it’s better to become your own boss as it provides more flexibility. You can work at your own pace and avoid the hassle of travelling to the office and back.”

Tam says many retirees today view retirement not as an end, but rather, a new and exciting phase in their lives. She also says that “being your own boss” offers better financial prospects.

“If you work for an employer, your income would likely be fixed. If I worked for an organisation and taught their kindergarten children, for instance, my salary would remain the same, regardless of the size of the classroom.

“But by giving tuition classes on my own, I earn more as my pupils increase. Of course, working for an employer is less risky,” she says.

G. Murthy, 58, says having a long working career can provide retirees with the confidence and knowledge to launch a business of their own. Having served with the armed forces for a number of years, he now heads his own security firm.

“My time with the armed forces has given me the experience and confidence I need to set up my own business,” he says.

But a post-retirement job need not be inspired from a previous working experience. Sometimes, running a well-run family business is all you need to secure your financial position going into your “golden years.”

Rashid Abu Bakar, 69, used to help his mother sell nasi lemak when he was growing up. After retiring from government service, he is continuing the business with another family member.

“It provides a decent side income in addition to the pension that I get every month,” Rashid says, adding that he enjoys doing it after all these years.

“I think the most important thing is to enjoy what you’re doing,” he says.

Separately, part-time college tutor Rashid Ali says retirees should constantly upgrade their skills to remain “marketable.”

“It can be a huge sacrifice, but if it means boosting your income prospects, then why not,” he says. – By EUGENE MAHALINGAM

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Pushing back the retirement age

Minding our language

The Government plans to set the retirement age at 60 and has proposed the move for the civil service.  But is the private sector ready for such a move?

The debate swirling around the Government’s intention to officially set the private sector’s retirement age at 60 raises a number of questions, none of which are new.

The Government’s move comes after the proposal to raise the civil service retirement age to 60 from 58 last October.

According to reports, the Private Sector Retirement Age Bill will be tabled in parliament soon, with provisos to allow those who reach 60 to renew up to 64 and may contain a clause allowing people to retire earlier.

At present, the Employment Act 1955 does not state any age for retirement, while the only regulation on age is the withdrawal of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), which is set at 55 under the EPF Act 1991.

Job seekers and employees are wrong to believe that pushing up the retirement age for the private sector will necessarily mean fewer employment or promotion opportunities. Starpic by Uu Ban Leong

Those who object to a higher retirement age from new entrants to the workforce, to industry lobby groups have set out their concerns before. Top on the list of worries for young job seekers is the fear of fewer job opportunities should those employed be retained for a longer period.

For employees with aspirations, a common grouse is that they may have to wait a little longer for their promotions and sit in that coveted corner office while for employers, costs play a big role.

However, job seekers and employees are wrong to believe that pushing up the retirement age for the private sector (or for the public sector for that matter) will necessarily mean fewer employment or promotion opportunities.

This “fallacy of labour scarcity”, as UCSI University academic and political analyst Dr Ong Kian Ming tells StarBizWeek, is not true.

Rather, it is the role of the Government to facilitate a conducive environment for firms to invest so that job opportunities opens up while talented and experienced employees have a chance to rise up the corporate ladder as businesses expand.

Deloitte Consulting Malaysia executive director Andrew Lee says a recent study in Britain shows that a one-year extension of working life implemented increases real gross domestic product by around 1% after about six years following its implementation.

“On the upside, two benefits are immediately clear. Firstly, because people work longer, raising the retirement age increases revenues coming into the social security system. Secondly, because people retire later, the payout to retirees falls,” he says.

Yes, there will be some lag in job opportunities in certain industries when people are retired later. For example, in the US aviation industry, pilots have to wait longer for promotion to captain because of the increase in retirement age for captains to 65 from 60.

Lee: ‘Firstly, because people work longer, raising the retirement age increases revenues coming into the social security system. Secondly, because people retire later, the payout to retirees falls.

A recent Bloomberg report quoting an industry hiring expert says “first officers are finding it more difficult to get promotions as the higher retirement age for captains creates a logjam at the top of the chain”.

Lee says the study shows that while there may be a temporary increase in the unemployment rate as the economy adjusts to an expansion in the labour force, after four years all the additional labour will be absorbed.

“Consumption will also rise more than output, as savings could be lower given that people face shorter periods of retirement,” he says.

When the bill to set a higher retirement age for the private sector becomes law, the pressure will be on the Government to really work hard to convince firms to expand their businesses in order that the job targets under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) can be achieved.

Since the private sector employs more than 90% of the close to 13 million-strong workforce, with the small medium enterprises (SMEs) accounting for more than 60% of employment, changes to make the economy more competitive will be crucial, as these changes will lead to job creation.

In other words, the Government will need to focus on reforms to dispel the lingering negative perceptions that hobble private sector investment and participation in the economy since much of the ETP investments so far is coming from public funding and the government-linked companies (GLCs).

Indeed, at a time when people need all the upbeat news they can get, the 20,000 jobs to be created for the East Coast Economic Region from the RM9bil pledge in investments recently announced should be incentive enough to spur reforms.

More needs to be done

Part of the convincing will come via implementing reforms recommended in the New Economic Model (NEM), which addresses long-term issues and is the blueprint for the country’s economic transformation.

However, observers say the cross-cutting reforms are not being implemented fast enough, with the Government more focused on the project-based initiatives of the ETP as represented by the National Key Economic Areas.

As Bangkok-based World Bank senior economist Frederico Gil Sander points out in an email reply, the project-based approach under the ETP is likely to continue to generate improvements to Malaysia’s business environment but there is a risk that the country will focus more on improving the environment without addressing the more difficult domestic structural challenges to competitiveness identified in the NEM.

“The largest gains for Malaysia at this time will come from addressing structural constraints through accelerated implementation of the Strategic Reform Initiatives (SRIs) rather than further improving the business environment (although of course both can and should be pursued in parallel),” he says.

The SRIs, whose final form came out last July, identifies public finance reform, the Government’s role in business, human capital development, public service delivery, international standards and liberalisation and bumiputra SMEs as areas to focus on to boost competitiveness.

Dr Ong says the 'fallacy of labour scarcity' is not true.

Sander says the ongoing efforts to address issues of regulatory and administrative constraints are noteworthy, citing Pemudah’s (the task force empowered to facilitate business-government dealings) success in bringing the Government and private sector in dialogue.

He says the strong involvement on both sides together with the trust that has been built over several years, willingness to go deep into the issues and ability to work with the implementing agencies to develop practical solutions are reflected in Malaysia improving five places in the World Bank’s 2011 “Doing Business” survey.

But there certainly are some doubts in the private sector in regards to investing despite a number of high profile multi-billion ringgit projects that have been rolled out such as the central Klang Valley’s My Rapid Transit and the Refinery and Petroleum Integrated Development or Rapid hub in Pengerang, Johor.

The doubts may be the reason why in the first year of the ETP, the private sector’s share of investment amounted to 35% with GLCs share at 40% and the Government’s at 25% of the RM176bil of committed investments.

This is in contrast to the original target of the ETP for investments, which was a ratio of 60% from the private sector, 32% from the GLCs and 8% from the Government.

Some of these doubts, especially the uncertain political climate due to the impending general election, are beyond the Government’s control but others are a symptom of the lack of political will in carrying on with the reform agenda.

Ong says that there are questions over whether investors will be allowed to invest in all sectors of the economy.

“They will want to know whether GLCs will get preferential treatment,” he says, adding that investors will also naturally want to diversify into other markets as part of risk-management and in the pursuit of higher returns.

Ong says in the case of SMEs, many of them do not depend on government contracts as they concentrate on exports and being part of the supply chain of the private sector.

He says a case in point is that not many private operators have gone into the 27 sub-sectors of the services sector even following its liberalisation in April 2009 as “there are lingering doubts about unfair practices”.

Nevertheless, despite the various issues raised, some form of rise in the retirement age for the private sector will eventually be adopted. It’s only a matter of the timeline for implementation and the main provisions of the legislation.

An ongoing exercise

Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan says negotiations among the various stakeholders are still ongoing and that they are looking through the draft of the bill.

“I believe the Government will go ahead and table the bill in parliament soon,” he says, adding that while there were reservations over several issues, in general most employers supported the higher retirement age.

“60 is just about the right age for retirement but there are many who have made plans to retire at 55, so a proviso for those who want to opt out should be included,” Shamsuddin says.

Shamsuddin says because the employment landscape has been shaped by labour laws of the 1960s and 1970s, employers needed time to implement the new law when it is passed.

Besides having to pass the legislation on the higher retirement age, he notes that the EPF Act and the Employees Social Security Act 1969 will also need to be amended to reflect the changes in the retirement age.

According to him, the main concern of the MEF members is that in the labour-intensive industries, health and other age-related factors may affect the productivity of workers.

“We’re asking for escape clauses as we believe that the higher retirement age should not apply to all industries,” Shamsuddin says, adding that companies’ succession and promotion plans may have to be changed too as senior executives stay on.

He says that comprehensive job retraining programmes should be implemented in those industries where workers’ productivity may be affected by age-related factors.

However, Deloitte’s Lee says an older workforce can play a significant role in leadership mentoring. “Some things in life just can’t be taught except through experience.

“Since leader-readiness remains a top issue for most corporations, an older workforce with leadership capacity fills an important space in any organisation,” he says.

Lee adds that older employees can be contracted on time-bound arrangement to play advisory roles in operations and planning. “The recent Tan Sri Hassan Merican’s contribution to Singapore Power being case-in-point,” he says.

Meanwhile, Robert Walters Malaysia country manager Sally Raj says in an email reply that in Singapore, there is some flexibility to the retirement age for both public and private sectors.

She says that the Singaporean government recently announced that public sector employees such as the police, civil defence and the armed forces as well as cabin crew of commercial airlines continue to be exempted from the new Retirement and Re-employment Act.

The retirement age was raised from 55 to 62 in Singapore, with further plans to raise it to 67.

“Perhaps Malaysia could take a leaf from Singapore’s steps in allowing some flexibility in the retirement age particularly for certain professionals within specific professions where experienced staff are severely lacking,” Sally says.

Malaysia needs flexible labour laws

Melissa: ‘Senior employees aged 55 should be re-employed under the retirement bill as per their current employment terms till they reach the age of 60.’

Rigid labour laws are a major obstacle to setting a higher retirement age for the private sector because employers are reluctant to retain those they deem as unfit for any number of reasons, including disciplinary and health reasons.

Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan says the high costs of letting workers go is a major employer concern.

“They will want to know if labour laws will be amended to make firing people for disciplinary problems easier,” he adds.

Efficiency

Human resource experts cite issues of efficiency and productivity as reasons why employers are objecting to the higher retirement age. Kelly Services managing director for Singapore and Malaysia Melissa Norman says it is undeniable that the current rigidity in terminating staff in Malaysia is a critical factor that prevents most employers from agreeing to the proposed retirement bill.

“The engagement of the more senior workforce should be based on the expertise and experience they bring to the table with clear expectations of the organisation,” she says in an email reply.

Melissa says this will ensure efficiency and productivity levels are maintained which is critical to the growth of an organisation. She adds that understanding and leveraging the differences between generational groups and their levels of experience is critical for organisations in order to get optimum performance outcomes.

“Organisations will need to be prepared to integrate the culture within generational workforce and design a systematic knowledge transfer programme between their ageing workforce with the incoming and younger workforce to maximise productivity,” she says.

Melissa says employers want the bill to address all gaps and concerns well after in-depth study and consultation with stakeholders instead of having it amended following grouses raised by employees.

She says the bill should include a tier-format approach where employment of senior employees is concerned.

“Senior employees aged 55 should be re-employed under the retirement bill as per their current employment terms till they reach the age of 60,” Melissa says.

She adds that from age 60 to 65, these pool of senior employees will be re-employed based on their capabilities and new terms of employment will be in place where they may be posted into a new role such as in training and mentoring programs for knowledge transfer to the younger generation.

Shift in mindset

Robert Walters Malaysia country manager Sally Raj says there needs to be a shift in mindset before the policy can work its intended benefits.

“The teething phase may see some reluctance on the part of employers, who may remain reluctant to hire a potential candidate who is 50, compared to one in the 30s or 40s,” she says.

Sally suggests that the Government can consider offering subsidies or medical benefits for hiring older employees as an incentive, which is the case in Singapore where the upcoming budget proposes offering subsidies to employers who hire older workers.

She says if the new bill is passed for a later retirement age, Malaysia’s labours laws will need to be redesigned to protect most employees as only employees earning below RM1,500 are fully protected by labour laws.

“Older employees with the relevant skill sets and experience should stand equal opportunity to be hired; and should not be let go without valid reasons,” Sally says. – Stories by FINTAN NG

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Prospects for retirees

Minding our language

With the expected introduction of a new waste collection system, Klang Valley folks will have to embrace the 3R steps (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) as part of their lifestyle.

Although the awareness level of the 3R campaign has increased, the actual act of recycling is not visible in Kuala Lumpur or the neighbouring states.

For a growing metropolitan city, Kuala Lumpur generates about 2,200 tonnes of waste a day. All the garbage is being sent to the Bukit Tagar landfill, which is filling up at an alarming rate.

Everything from food waste, plastic, glass, tyres and diapers to furniture end up at the landfills. All these waste, according to National Solid Waste Management Department director-general Datuk Nadzri Yahaya, can be reduced substantially by separation at source.

Trash being compacted at the Bukit Tagar Landfill.

Separating material and household goods at source is done so that they do not enter mixed-waste streams. It is all part of the aim to recycle, reuse and improve waste management.

Many have questioned the need for separation at source when the infrastructure is not yet available to sort and manage the waste.

“The awareness level is there. People are slowly starting to separate their waste. However, there is no infrastructure in terms of collection so that has to be addressed first,” said Nadzri.

To deal with that issue, the Government, together with concessionaire Alam Flora, has embarked on a new garbage disposal system with free green bins for every house.

The scheme began last September and the bin is meant for organic waste and is free for home owners.

“Some people misunderstand that the bin is for the house owner; it is actually for the premises. We have marked each bin and so far distributed 72,796 out of the 254,220 allocated for Kuala Lumpur,” he added.

All the bins have to be distributed by September this year when the new collection system will be implemented.

“The 2+1 waste collection programme involves two days for non-recyclable waste while the other is for recycling products,” said Alam Flora chief executive officer Mohd Zain Hassan.

This, according to him, is the first step towards waste separation. Alam Flora is currently servicing Putrajaya with the two-bin system, which has worked well in the area.

“In the future, we are looking at a Material Recovery Facility to help sort out the various recyclable materials and send them to the respective manufacturers,” Zain said.

Alam Flora staff distributing rubbish bins. Most people are initially skeptical on efforts to better the waste mangement system by use of the bins, but many are slowly coming around to the idea.

For now, the Housing and Local Government Ministry will continue to educate the public on the importance of waste separation and the 3R project.

The awareness campaigns will lead to the implementation of the Waste Disposal Act that came into effect on Sept 1 last year.

Under the Act, all house owners must separate waste and Alam Flora will make their rounds three times a week.

If the people fail to do so, they are subjected to a penalty. However, it will only be implemented when the time is right.

This year, the department will look at building an anaerobic digester to break down organic food waste.

Anaerobic digestion is a series of processes in which microorganisms break down biodegradable materials in the absence of oxygen.

“About 45% of garbage is food waste, so we are thinking of building the digester through private funding,” said Nadzri.

However, another problem has to be addressed first before the digester can be built.

According to him, the Government wants to know how much waste generated from the food industry is available.

“Naturally, most hotels and restaurants have their own means to dispose of food waste. Some send it to animal farms and other collectors to earn extra income. Our task is to find out how much is available for us to clear away,” Nadzri said.

Their aim is to locate a suitable spot in the Klang Valley to build the digester, as transportation cost might prove to be an issue if the plant is built far away.

Separating waste into the blue and orange bag is not difficult and has become a habit for domestic helper Nalwiyah Karman, 42, in Putrajaya. - Filepic

Nadzri said there were many technical aspects to look into as well including the stench, logistics and availability of food waste.

“When they send it to the private disposal centres, they earn money for their waste. If we were to collect and take it to the digester, we would not give any money. In fact, we will have charges so these are the things we need to look at and address,” he added.

Many also forget that there are other types of solid waste that are fast becoming a common sight at illegal dumpsites.

“We also have to look at tyres and construction debris. Pre-viously, these types of rubbish end up in landfills. Now their volume is decreasing and we need to check where these things are going. If they are being disposed of in the right manner, we have no objections,” he said.

The Government is also looking at a Crusher to crush the construction waste and turn it into fine gravel, which can be used for roads and other base materials like what is currently practised in Singapore.

Nadzri said these were all long-term plans that would be looked at one step at a time, to ensure that Klang Valley become environment-friendly with a good waste management system. – By PRIYA MENON

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All in a day’s work

Printing firm’s green policies

Hampered by apathy

Stay connected anywhere and anytime as Kuala Lumpur City Hall is making it a requirement for food and beverage outlets to provide Wi-Fi services.

The move by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to make it a requirement to provide Wi-Fi services under its food and beverage business licence is lauded by many.

It is expected to be enforced in April.

Piccolo Mondo Gastro Sdn Bhd director Suzianna Wong-Svrcula said the move was a good one as it positioned the city as an Internet savvy capital.

“At the end of the day I believe providing Wi-Fi for customers is good business sense. Many people own smart phones, iPads and tablets these days so the service is something useful to them,” she said, adding that all four of the establishments under the brand provided Wi-Fi as well as electrical plug points for free.

Many like the idea of chilling at restaurants and enjoying the Wi-fi services.

She said their facility was for the convenience of their customers.

“The only minor setback of providing such service is we get customers who order only one drink and use the service all day.

“However, that is not so common and we tend to look at the bright side most of the time,” Wong-Svrcula said.

She added that providing the service was part of the business and cost was not an issue.

One of the earliest providers of free Wi-Fi for customers, Starbucks Malaysia believes such a facility has made their outlets a favourite place for customers to relax and enjoy the Wi-Fi out of their home and office.

“The service is complimentary in all our outlets in Malaysia. It encourages frequent visits to our outlets,” a spokesman said, adding that easy access to Wi-Fi suited the current fast-paced lifestyle.

He added that DBKL’s move was a good one in order for the country to be more competitive in the globalised world where many people used the Internet to stay connected with others and work outside of their homes and offices.

Nerogroup Restaurants marketing communications executive Rachel Lai said the requirement allowed standardisation of service among restaurant businesses in the city.

“This also means there will be stronger competition in the business. We believe easy access to the Internet allows our restaurant to be chosen spots for people who want to check in or update their status on Facebook or Twitter,” she said.

She agreed that the downside of providing the free Wi-Fi was the potential of attracting freeloaders.

While most consumers welcome the new licensing requirements, there are some who believe it will promote social problems.

“These days, we see families or a group of friends gathering at restaurants and not talking to each other. Instead, they are busy catching up with others on their phones and tablets. Providing Wi-Fi only encourages this,” Kim Tan, 28, an engineer said.

She pointed out that people who needed to stay connected at all times would already have their own Internet connection, such as mobile broadbands and 3G services.

DBKL will be enforcing the new licensing requirement as early as April this year with no extra charges imposed on the licence, though operators will still be subjected to any fees imposed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission or Internet service providers.

Only food and beverage businesses including restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars and club lounges occupying more than 120sq m in floor space will be subjected to the requirement.

Outlet operators are given the choice of providing the service for free or at a reasonable fee. – By CHOONG MEK ZHIN

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Driven by a common vision to inspire people to do good, The Star has teamed up with Ecoteer to encourage villagers, readers and tourists to help protect the marine environment of Pulau Perhentian in Terengganu.

Under the year-long “Treasured Island” collaboration, financial contribution from The Star Foundation will support Ecoteer projects on the island, which are aimed at improving the livelihood of villagers and raising awareness on environmental protection of turtles and coral reefs.

A non-profit group set up in 2005, Ecoteer relies on paying volunteers, or what is termed “voluntourism”, to achieve its objective of promoting “Conservation Through Education”.

At Pulau Perhentian, Ecoteer volunteers have taught English to schoolchildren, helped run the school nature club and conducted environmental awareness activities.

With funding from The Star Foundation – the charity arm of The Star Media Group that raises, receives and administers funds for charity, social and research purposes – these activities will continue this year, together with other programmes on recycling, composting waste and organic farming.

The Ecoteer effort at Perhentian drew support from the Foundation as protecting the environment is one of the causes championed by the group, according to Star Publications (M) Bhd group managing director/CEO Ho Kay Tat.

“Voluntourism is something new and we thought it was an interesting idea. People pay to participate in the conservation project. Instead of just lying on the beach or snorkelling at Perhentian, they spend time teaching villagers about the environment, and help to protect turtles and coral reefs.

“Ecoteer volunteers are also working with the school on education, and helping the locals find other sources of income. If you can help them have a new skill, they don’t have to do things which might not be good for the environment. It’s a pioneering project, that’s why we see it as a project worth supporting,” says Ho.

Employees and readers of The Star will also get a chance to volunteer their time at Perhentian as there will be sponsored trips to the island.

“This collaboration goes beyond just giving out money and providing editorial coverage. It gives an opportunity for our staff and readers to participate actively in the conservation and community efforts on the island. They will spend three to four days there and experience first-hand what is taking place there,” says Ho.

He adds that if more people were interested in voluntourism and gave it time, the Ecoteer project can be sustained and this will benefit the villagers.

“The Ecoteer effort is not going to solve the world’s environmental problems but at least an effort is being made. And it’s clearly a hands-on, on-the-ground effort. Even if the impact is in a small area, at least it’s real impact,” he adds.

Ecoteer founder Daniel Quilter says the partnership with The Star has enabled the non-profit set-up to continue with its effort to promote responsible tourism, environmental awareness and community service.

“Without this collaboration, Ecoteer will not be able to fund and sustain the project beyond 2011 as voluntourism is not a popular practice in Malaysia. The activities so far have been solely funded on profits brought in by voluntourism and to date, a huge number of volunteers are from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, where voluntourism is embraced with great enthusiasm and support.”

He says the trips to the island will enable readers and employees of The Star to learn more about the marine environment and efforts to protect it and hopefully, inspire them to reduce their impact on not only the Perhentian islands but wherever they might travel to. – By TAN CHENG LI

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A cause to travel

Vacation with a difference

Can slow food ever work in a fast world? Thank goodness some Malaysians seem to think so.

We are eaten by food. Food is eating up the earth, its resources and its chance for renewal. – Carlo Petrini

IN a tranquil suburb of Petaling Jaya in Selangor, a thrilling movement is under way. Dozens of foodies and farmers are gathered outside the small restaurant of Wellness Concept for a few hours of networking and mutual education.

Wong Wye Yim, a bespectacled lady who owns an organic farm called Green Wish Vegi Garden near Chenderiang, Perak, removes petai beans from their pods and waves them in front of my face: “Here, I just plucked this from my tree. Try eating it raw.”

Resisting the urge to turn and bolt, I take the bright green bean from her and pop it into my mouth. I start to chew, and Wong gazes at me expectantly, waiting for an answer.

“It tastes nothing like an M&M,” I say.

Still, Wong has reason to be proud. Her petai is a by-product of a sustainable farming method she has practised over the years, as a sort of middle-finger protest against the large-scale farming industry. But here’s the real clincher: it smells and tastes better than regular petai too.

“I know how bad the commercial stuff is,” she says. “I’ve worked there before.”

Slow Food events are organised to counter the fast food craze.

We’re at a Slow Food Carnival, an event that is organised on Terra Madre Day (or “Mother Earth Day”) to counter the fast food craze that has millions of Malaysians eating on the run. This movement was founded in 1996 by Carlo Petrini – or Carlin, as he is known to friends and fans – a one-time journalist who used to write restaurant reviews for Italy’s leftist newpapers.

This fiery Italian began his slow food crusade in the mid-1980s after rallying (unsuccessfully) against the opening of a McDonald’s in Piazza di Spagna, in the heart of Rome. Now, almost 30 years on, Petrini has become one of the most successful revolutionaries, as hundreds of thousands of people in 130 countries adopt his principles promoting high-quality, small-scale farming and organising a relaxed life around long lunches. In 2008, he was named by British daily The Guardian as one of the 50 people who could save the planet.

“In the past 50 years food has lost its value,” he was quoted as saying in the media. “The umbilical cord that had once connected the worlds of farmer and consumer was cut. This is what has to change.”

Earth angels

In his article, “The Slow Food gourmet who started a revolution”, for The Independent, Peter Popham wrote that “not long ago, the local grocer’s shop and the pub, as well as being sources of food, were places for the exchange of information and knowledge, where customers did their shopping and eating informed by the wise words of people who were closely in touch with the sources of supply. But all these fonts of food wisdom were being swept away by modernisation, in the form of supermarkets and fast food.”

Malaysia is no exception.

However, Slow Food members like Wellness Concept’s resident consultant Stella Tan remains upbeat over the future. Today, she hopes to recruit more members for Slow Food Malaysia. To be a recognised NGO, the local chapter of this international non-profit organisation needs at least 20 members. It has seven so far.

“The worldwide network creates an alternative model of food production and consumption by focusing on food that is good, clean and fair,” she says. “This means the food is good for our palate, clean for humans, animals and the environment and fair for producers and consumers.”

While a number of Slow Food events have been held in Malaysia in the past few years, awareness of the movement remains relatively low. Tan’s own foray into Slow Food was accidental. Her “A-ha!” moment happened a couple of years ago when she found a benign tumour in her breast.

“It made me sit down and think about my life and what I wanted from it. My younger sister passed away from a brain tumour and I didn’t want the same thing to happen to me.”

It’s only when she gave up her career as an accountant to join the wellness industry that she heard of Petrini and his cause. Tan says the man’s words struck a chord with her because “even in Penang where I come from, more and more people are substituting local dishes for hamburgers and fries”.

Petrini believes that the pace of life is getting too fast worldwide, and this demand for fast food and mass-produced meals is actually causing problems ecologically as well as psychologically.

And as a response to burgeoning worldwide demand for meat, most of our livestock are raised unsustainably in dirty, overcrowded facilities and with unethical animal practices. Meanwhile, large swathes of the Brazilian rainforest are destroyed to raise cattle to supply fast food chains with cheaper sources of beef.

Of course, one way to minimise this atrocity is to eat less meat. But supporters of the slow food movement show that we can still eat pigs without being one.

Darren Ho, another small-scale farmer at the carnival, raises hundreds of free-range chicken, geese and duck at his family-run property, Vision Eco Farm, in Genting Sempah on the border of Pahang and Selangor. Unfortunately, these animals aren’t for sale.

“We rely on them to grow our sugar cane, tomatoes, radishes and spinach. They eat worms, snails and insects off the ground and plants so we don’t have to use pesticides at all,” says Ho, breaking off a stub of organic sugar cane for me to taste.

Meanwhile, a diminutive man in shorts and shirt walks past us with a box of piping hot sweet potatoes for random passers-by to sample. Tan Yi Hong, otherwise known as Mr Potato among his peers, has an organic farm in Banting, Selangor, growing only these large, starchy tubers.

“You know, I started this business when I saw how the towkays manufacturing chemical fertilisers were all dropping dead like flies,” he says, stopping to chat in Hokkien. “These chemicals are poisonous. I knew I couldn’t live with myself if I used them!”

Live right, slow down

With all this talk about organic foods, you would think that our generation invented it. However, for the vast majority of human history, agriculture can be described as organic. It was only during the 20th century that a large supply of new synthetic chemicals was introduced to the food supply. The organic farming movement arose in the 1940s in response to the heartless agro-business that was taking over the world.

Still, it’s a long and arduous process to grow anything organically. Sweet potato farmer Tan claims that while commercial manufacturers who use these fertilisers are able to grow about 40 potatoes, his own yields are only a fraction of that amount.

“It took me five years to find the best methods to grow these sweet potatoes without any chemicals. I discovered that, first and foremost, you have to respect the natural rhythms of the earth. You cannot force the land to do what God did not intend it to do,” he says.

That’s the thing about Slow Food. It puts you in touch with the producers of the food you enjoy, recreating the bond that was cut when supermarkets invaded the marketplace. You touch, smell, taste and learn about the “food wisdom” that Petrini had described.

“It’s all about activating the five senses,” agrees Tan. “Malaysians have forgotten the original taste of their food because there’s just too much seasoning in everything we cook. Slow food helps them to rediscover this taste.”

The next time you tune in to the Asian Food Channel, remember that the fetishising of food is also partly to blame for our disconnect.

“We’re all full of gastronomy, recipes etc. Turn on a TV anywhere in the world and you will see an idiot with a spoon. And every newspaper and magazine has recipes and a photo of the dish taken from above like a cadaver … We must normalise food rather than put it on a pedestal far out of reach,” says Petrini in an interview with The Guardian.

A stroll around the Slow Food Carnival makes me realise that Slow Food is a refreshing departure from all that. From the sweet potatoes sold by Mr Tan to the veggie gyoza made by Wai Pei Fong, the Slow Food Carnival proves that foods that focus on the simple and familiar can be equally, if not more, delicious.

For more information on Slow Food Malaysia, please call the Centre for Environment, Technology & Development Malaysia (Cetdem) at 03-7875 7767.

Show your support for slow food

Carlo Petrini’s vision of farmers’ markets in every neighbourhood and people tending to community vegetable allotments may still be out of reach for Malaysians, but that doesn’t mean we can’t join the Slow Food movement. Here’s how you can play your part:

1. Buy local foods that are produced sustainably. The organic label indicates that farms are free of the synthetic chemicals, fertilisers and pesticides that reduce biodiversity and pollute water ways. Organic animals are also raised in a humane way, having access to the outdoors.

2. Join or start your local chapter of Slow Food. Slow Food Malaysia is led by volunteers who believe in living on the land sustainably and involving the community. Events include cooking and gardening workshops, talks by authors and leaders in the movement, and social gatherings that are perfect for bouncing around ideas with other members.

3. Visit a local organic farm. There are a growing number of working organic farms in Malaysia that welcome visitors. For a small fee, families can learn about sustainable agriculture, sample fresh produce or even stay for a few nights!

4. Eat and support foods on the “Ark of Taste” and “Save Our Seafood” list. The Slow Food movement and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has a growing list of rare foods that are connected to our culture and are at risk of disappearing. Check out the 200-plus foods on the list and get involved.

5. If you have to eat out, eat local fare, whether it is laksa, roti jala or satay. This will help preserve our unique culinary heritage and stave off the threat of homogeneity, which will eventually kill local cooking.

6. Eat slowly. You should strive to attain the pleasures that can be found in eating over a longer period of time, savouring your food with a glass of wine, instead of eating a sandwich in 10 minutes.

7. Cut down on food waste. Less wastage means less exploitation of resources. This can reduce the disproportionately large environmental impact your food has on the environment. – - Stories by LOUISA LIM

Image used under Creative Commons License, thenausner (Flickr)

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Did you know that you could initiate insurance claims for any damage or injury caused by public property or in public premises?

Street trees that fall in a thunderstorm causing damage to property; motorists suffering injuries after driving into potholes; children getting hurt due to defective playground equipment – each of these can be a factor to initiate an insurance claim for compensation.

The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), for instance, has awarded RM148,245 to claimants from 2009 to 2011, for various cases in Petaling Jaya, involving damage to vehicles going into potholes, trees falling on private property in a storm and children hurt at playgrounds.

Damaged: Trees falling on private property in a storm is one of the factors that can lead to insurance claims.

The Public Liability Insurance Policy (under PNSB Insurance Brokers Sdn Bhd) taken by MBPJ is unique in that it covers, in addition to physical damage, theft of personal items from the city council’s premises as well as any accident that might occur while ratepayers use the facilities on the council’s premises.

For example, if a person visits the PJ Library and personal items go missing from the lockers then they can claim compensation. The process is apparently hassle free, provided the claimant gives all the required documents, including a police report.

For those wanting to make an insurance claim for cases that fall under the MBPJ purview, go to the General Administration Division Service Management Department on the second floor at the MBPJ headquarters in Jalan Yong Shook Lin in PJ New Town.

MBPJ’s Senior Assistant Director Azizah Kosni (03-7956 3544 ext: 327) or its Senior Clerk Ibrahim Abdullah (03-7956 3544 ext 310) are well versed with the claims process and would give advice to people.

Map: MBPJ Headquarters

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Cheap, fast and efficient

Sixteen years after they were forced to relocate from their ancestral homes to make way for the Bakun Dam, the Orang Ulu of Balui are now turning to tourism to survive – with the dam as an attraction.

The 101-door longhouse in Uma Belor was eerily silent as all lights in the hallway had been switched off, leaving only flickering flames from the candles held by eight Kenyah women.

It was a solemn yet surreal moment as the Govina dance was re-enacted. First performed half a century ago, the Govina was held to mark the peace accord struck between warring Orang Ulu tribes living in the vicinity of the Kalimantan border during the Indonesian confrontation.

The beautiful Uma Belor - home to Nora Igang (below) and the pioneer homestay area for Sungai Asap.

In the recent performance held at the longhouse in Sungai Asap in Bakun, Belaga, Penghulu Saging Bit took on the role of a tribal chief as he listened to his people’s advice to make peace so that they can go on living harmoniously.

The Govina could have been just another dance at a cultural show but for the tribal people of Balui who moved out from their ancestral homes to make way for the Bakun Hydroelectric Dam 16 years ago and in Sungai Asap, the performance reflected their inner emotions as they came to terms with the changes wrought on them and move on in life.

For Nora Igang of Uma Belor, 16 years of bemoaning the loss of their ancestral homes in the rainforest is too long.

“We need to move on. We need to revive the survival spirit of the Balui people and make our peace. Now, we just have to take whatever opportunities given to us to put food on our table,” said Nora, who is barely five feet tall but harbours a big dream for her people.

The primary school teacher hopes to promote the tranquil Sungai Asap as the biggest homestay hub in Sarawak. The settlement is located between a man-made lake (Bakun Reservoir) and one of the world’s largest hydro dams the Bakun Dam which is already a tourist attraction.

The dam equivalent to the size of Singapore is situated at Sungai Balui, a tributary of Rajang River and 37km from Belaga town in the Kapit Division. About 9,000 indigenous Orang Ulu, mainly subsistence farmers and hunters in the upstream and downstream areas of Sungai Balui were relocated from 15 longhouses to Kampung Sungai Asap over three years. Flooding of the Bakun Dam began in October last year, putting 700 sq km of land underwater.

Many of the tribal people who could not fit into the communal settlement at Sungai Asap have moved back into the jungles while some had migrated elsewhere. Those who remained in Sungai Asap now welcome government plans to develop fishing and tourism industries within the Bakun Dam.

Nora Igang - 'We have lost our traditional homes along the Balui, we cannot afford to lose this place again.

Nora, 42, a Kayan, believes that the people must take “the bull by the horns” to survive. And one way to do so is to open their extra rooms to visitors under the homestay programme.

Nora has been playing a pivotal role on the ground she has been busy over the last two years trying to start the homestay project in Bakun whenever she is not working at SK Sambop in Belaga.

Her sentiment is shared and supported by important members of the community the Marens (aristocrat leaders) namely Maren Uma equivalent to village headman Ajang Bit of Uma Belor, Penghulu Saging Bit, Hulu Rejang MP Datuk Billy Abit Joo, Pemanca Tony Kulleh and many others in Sungai Asap.

With their support, she has rallied 11 other relatives staying in Uma Belor to attend homestay courses organised by the Tourism Ministry recently. Now, they are duly certified as licensed longhouse homestay operators.

As a pioneer homestay operator and project coordinator, Nora has to develop tourism products as well as get tour operators to market them. She also has to mobilise the local folk to put up cultural performances and get involved in logistics like food, transport and guiding.

“I know I will be facing many challenges ahead but am staying focused as I believe this project can help boost our people’s income,” said Nora.

“We have lost our traditional homes along the Balui, we cannot afford to lose this place again. What we are doing is to get people to see the beauty of this setting and our lifestyle.”

Sungai Asap, during normal working days, is rather deserted as many locals work outside the settlement. Those left behind are housewives, old folk and children. The womenfolk, who make up about 70% of population, stay behind to man the village fort.

Ajang said the government has been very supportive of the whole project and has even organised courses and promised grants for the operators.

One staunch supporter is Mary Wan Mering, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) marketing manager.

In Sungai Asap recently, Mary said: “The spirit of the Balui has touched you and me and now is the time to rejuvenate.”

Mary is a Kayan from Ulu Baram while I am a Melanau from Mukah, both outsiders linked to the people of Balui through our professional involvement (myself, as a journalist covering the plight of the Balui people since 1995).

From the first time I stepped foot on Balui until the people were evacuated in 1998, I have witnessed the their emotional reaction that ranged from bafflement to fear, anger, confusion, helplessness, resignation and hope.

But it is perhaps the tenacity of the people that touched me the most the human capacity and spirit to survive as epitomised by Nora and many of her fellow settlers at Sungai Asap recently.

Mary, who participated in a familiarisation group visit organised by the State Ministry of Tourism and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) recently, is confident the homestay programme has great potential.

“We already have the Bakun Dam as an attraction, the people’s varied cultures are an added bonus. Where else in Sarawak can you find all five different indigenous groups of people staying within one area?” she said.

There are 15 longhouses in Sungai Asap inhabited by the Kayan, Kenyah, Lahanan, Ukit and Penan Talun people. The Kayan and Kenyah communities first migrated downstream from the Mahakam river in East Kalimantan to the Balui river about 500 years ago whereas the Kayans of Uma Belor had crossed over the Balui as late as the 1920s. The Lahanan, Ukit and Penan Talun are minority groups in Sungai Asap.

Billy, a Kayan from Uma Belor, aptly described their situation in Sungai Asap: “This is a nice place to live in beautiful sceneries everywhere but we have to be realistic.

“We cannot depend on farming anymore because we do not have any land to farm other than the 1.2ha allocated by the government to each household.

“That is why we are turning to tourism. We need to put food on the table.”

The Sungai Asap settlers are hoping that Bakun Dam will be the pulling factor where tourism is concerned.

As Nora put it: “Bakun Dam has taken our homes. Now, it is time for Bakun to return the favour.” – By DIANA ROSE

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