Science College Students Visit Remote Belait Village By Norhayati Zalani

Kuala Belait - More than 40 students and teachers from Paduka Seri Begawan Science College visited the traditional longhouses in Melilas dan Sukang in the hinte ands of Belait District yesterda to expose them to the culture and livelihood of the residents.

Deputy Principal Safiah Pengarah Buntar said the visit was part of the college's yearend activities meant to educate the participants about the ways of life in the traditional longhouses. "We have visited Belalong in Temburong and this time we've got the opportunity to visit the Melilas and Sukang mukims in Belait District."

The students and their teachers stayed one night in the long houses, as part of their objective to build a strong relation ship with the residents.

The Melilas Longhouse was built in 1975 and it has 14 doors. The wife of the head of Melilas Longhouse, Nuraliyah Abdullah Talib, said the residents made their living by growing crops such as rice and fruits.

The mukim Melilas covers 603 square km and consists of three villages. The area has schools, electricity, water as well as the health services. "We thank the government for paying attention to our needs," she said.

The students also had the opportunity to see the handicraft made by the residents, including Uyut, Salok, Seraung, Jagan and Umpin, which are the local names for baskets woven from palm leaves.

Fajrina Md Salleh, a form four student, said she was really excited to be there and to see the unique culture and to learn the traditionals dance which were still alive and thriving in the community surrounding the traditional longhouses.

Meanwhile, Najihah Kamilah Awg Gidizaman said the visit helped her realise how different life was in the rural area compared to that in towns and cities.  -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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