KUCHING: Telang Usan Assemblyman Dato Dennis Ngau has appealed to the Sarawak Government to take over the management of the Penan Community Library in Long Latei and provide ongoing operational funding to ensure the educational facility continues to benefit remote communities.

He said the library’s operating costs, particularly the allowances for volunteers managing the facility, had largely been covered through his efforts as the area’s elected representative.

“Rather than allowing this initiative to struggle due to financial constraints, we should build on what has been achieved and ensure the library can continue serving the community in the long term,” he said.

He was speaking during the debate on the Sarawak State Library (Amendment) Bill, 2026 at the Second Sitting of the Fifth Session of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

In this regard, he urged the relevant ministry and the Sarawak State Library to consider taking over the management of the facility, including allocating funds for staff salaries, maintenance, reading materials and other operating expenses.

He added that the community library was established through a collaboration between the Sarawak State Library management, the Telang Usan assemblyman’s service centre, village chiefs and the Long Latei community before it was officially opened on Oct 24, 2020.

He said the facility was set up to bring reading materials and learning resources closer to Penan children and residents of nearby villages who live far from urban centres and major educational facilities.

The library is located in a remote area that takes approximately two hours to reach from Long Lama via logging roads.

Dato Dennis said the takeover would not require the State Government to build a new facility from scratch, as the library was already in place and being used by the local community.

“What is needed now is a sustainable management and funding mechanism to ensure its continuity,” he said.

Elaborating further, he proposed an assessment of the existing facilities, staffing requirements and operating costs before an appropriate management arrangement was decided, whether through direct management by the Sarawak State Library or a formal partnership with the local community.

He expressed hope that the Sarawak Government would consider his request to ensure the Long Latei Community Library could continue providing access to knowledge and educational resources, particularly for Penan children and residents of nearby villages. -UKASnews

Prepared by: Jonnie Kiew
Photo: Hazrin Sunaini
Translator: Uilson Ng