Böcker av Kc Ling

Sarawak has a very diverse population comprising of many races and ethnic groups. Among the ethnic groups, the Orang Ulu (meaning upriver people) include the major Kayan and Kenyah, and the minor group like the Penans. The Penans are the original nomadic people; some of them still maintain the lifestyle of hunter and gatherer. The narration of this book is not meant to be an anthropological study of the Penans of Apoh-Tutoh, Baram. The subjects are more of general interest to common people as they are a mix of historical events recalled by the elders, storytelling and tall tales. It started with the Penan settlements at Lapok, Tinjar and the migration to Apoh-Tutoh. The role of the Penans as proxy warriors in the Kayan-Berawan tribal wars was explored as continued with the history of head hunting and Baram Regatta. The White Rajahs and their punitive expeditions (Lang, Sadok and Kayan) against the Sea Dayak of Saribas and Skrang, Rentap, the Kayans of Rajang and peace making are described to give perspective to the Baram Regatta and peace-making ceremony. However, there is increasing number of the Penans who have abandoned the nomadic lifestyle for settlements in longhouses. Hence, the Penans face the dilemma of a semi-settled lifestyle and changes due to development such as disappearing cultural heritage (sign sticks "oroo" and traditional dance "saryau titut"), lost generation (school dropouts, teenage mother, marriage with outsiders, sexual violence and exploitation and alcoholism), forestry issues and the disappearing Penan Landscape ("Tana' Pengurip Penan").

The narration of this book about the Penan of Apoh- Tutoh has a different perspective and is not meant to be an anthropological study. The subjects are more of general interest to common people as they are a mix of historical events recalled by the elders, storytelling and tall tales. It started with the Penan settlements and the migration story to the role of proxy warriors in the Kayan- Berawan tribal wars, origin theme and tall tales, Korean Pastor Kim, Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM) / Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB), disappearing cultural heritage, lost generation and lastly, the development and dilemma of a semi-settled lifestyle.

THE BOOK IS ABOUT THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF LAING AS A FOREST SURVEYOR AND PARTLY AS ACOMMUNITY OFFICER DEALING WITH LOCAL FOREST PEOPLE. IN HIS WORKS, HE ENCOUNTERED THE PENANSAND RELATED SOME ANECDOTES OF PENANS AND WHITE MEN. HE TALKED ABOUT THE DIALOGUE WITHKAYAN, KENYAH AND PENAN; LONG MOH AGREEMENT WHICH EXCLUDED THE PENANS. HE WAS INVOLVEDWITH BARAM OPERATION MASTER PLAN AND WITNESSED SUBSEQUENT BLOCKADES BY PENANS AGAINSTLOGGING. PENAN BLOCKADES AT LAYUN, "BLOCKADE SATAN" AND SEBATU BROUGHT FAME TOENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITISTS LIKE BRUNO MANSER, HARRISON NGAU AND ANDERSON MUTANG. HEOVERSAW HELI-LOGGING, ISO9001 DOCUMENTATION AND SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION. HE WAS ABLE TO SHARE HIS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE WITH INTERNS AND UNDER-GRADUATESWHO CHOSE FORESTRY AS A CAREER. HIS MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF WORKING IN THE FOREST HASENHANCED HIS APPRECIATION OF NATURE CONSERVATION AND CORDIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH PENANS.