Uma Juman toward winning the National Desa Cermelang Award 2008
Brief Background
In the early days, prior to the construction of the gigantic Bakun HEP project, Uma Juman was located at the upper reach of the mighty Rajang River or also known as Ulu Balui – because the Rajang River above Kapit is commonly referred as Btg. Balui or Balui River. For the longhouse folks to get to the nearest commercial centre in the district, that is the “Belaga Bazaar”, in those days, it would take them about 10 hours journey by a long boat powered by two forty horsepower outboat engines. And from the longhouse to Kapit town (divisional administrative centre), the journey could take about a week – depending on the water level.
The population of Uma Juman ; a 30-doors longhouse, in those day were about 500 inhabitants. Their main economic activities during those days were subsistence farming, gathering of jungle products, fishing & hunting of wildlife.
How the Folks strived to achieve the Award:
In the early 1950s, the only primary school nearby Uma Juman was at Long Linau – i.e . about 4 hours paddling trip down-river & the return journey up-river could takeup to about 12 to 15 hours. However, since early 1960s, Uma Juman then had its own Primary school (for primary 1 to primary 4 only). For those young folks who proceed to primary 5 & 6, they had to go further down river i.e. to the Belaga Bazaar – the nature of the journey was as described earlier/above. Read more