KANOWIT: The commissioning of a power supply at Rumah Veronica Silas in Nanga Bawan here has ended the longhouse residents’ wait of more than 20 years for a round-the-clock electricity.

Tuai Rumah Veronica Silas, 50, said the residents of her 14-door longhouse celebrated their Gawai Dayak last month for the first time with 24-hour power supply after it was commissioned in April this year.

She recalled her longhouse faced difficulties in getting connected to the state’s power grid when they first received the project implemented under Rural Electrification Scheme (RES).

This was despite the longhouse being just about 10 minutes’ drive from the Nibong/Tada Road, she said.

“A survey was carried out in 2009 after we applied for the project.

“Somehow, it could not be implemented because the proposed power line would cross an oil palm estate belonging to an individual.

“We were told to discuss with the estate owner to ask for his permission.

“He agreed with the condition that we pay him RM400 per oil palm that would be affected by the project,” she told The Borneo Post when met at her longhouse on Friday.

The occasion was a ‘Ngiling Bidai’ (closing of Gawai Dayak) and a ceremony to mark the official commissioning of the power supply to the longhouse organised by Pedai/Jih/Tuah/Bawan Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK).

Ngemah assemblyman Alexander Vincent was the guest of honour at the function that was also attended by his wife Susan Clement, Penghulu Ugap Seribu, Penghulu Juin Adan and Pedai/Jih/Tuah/Bawan JKKK chairman Tuai Rumah Basil Ujang.

Veronica said after assessment and discussions, only nine trees were identified to be cut off to give way to the project.

Problems rose again because the longhouse did not have enough funds to pay the estate owner, she added.

During Gawai Dayak last year, Veronica said she invited Alexander to her longhouse for him listen to their problems.

“In less than a year, the problem was solved after the caring YB (elected representative) stepped in.

“So we invited him again this year to our longhouse so we can share our happiness with him for helping us,” she said.

She added each family used to spend between RM300 and RM400 per month for buying diesel for their generator set.

“Now we are only paying the most about RM100 per month including RM22 monthly repayment from our total loan of RM800 for the installation of electricity meter,” she said.

In his speech at the function, Alexander noted that many longhouses in Nibong/Tada Road including individual houses had been supplied with electricity.

He later announced a grant of RM10,000 for the JKKK of Rumah Veronica and RM3,000 to its Women’s Bureau for buying cooking utensils.

At the same function, he received PRS membership application forms.