Kampung Tual : Their Stories

A series of story collected from the indigenous people of Tual Village (Kampung Tual), Pahang, Malaysia. (Part 2)

I waited at SK Serendut and introduced to Yok Long A/L Yleh (54), as he was picking up his daughter, Hanania (10), from the school hostel. Mr Yok Long allow me to follow him home, to experience the challenges he described.
Saya menunggu di SK Serendut dan diperkenalkan kepada Yok Long A/L Yleh (54), ketika dia mengambil anak perempuannya, Hanania (10), dari asrama sekolah. Encik Yok Long membenarkan saya mengikuti dia pulang, untuk mengalami cabaran yang diceritakannya.

Hanania, one of the student from nearby village, were opt for staying at the school hostel by the reason of the difficulty to reach school. Her father will fetch her home every weekend.
Hanania, salah seorang pelajar dari kampung berdekatan, dipilih untuk tinggal di asrama sekolah kerana kesulitan untuk ke sekolah. Ayahnya akan membawanya pulang ke rumah setiap hujung minggu.

It was raining heavily the day before and the route to Kampung Labu is muddy and slippery.
Kelmarin, hujan turun teramat lebat dan jalan ke Kampung Labu berlumpur dan licin.

The road was formed from logging activities in the past, and villagers have use this red clay and unpaved roads for years. Having used to the condition, Yok Long find a safe way through.
Jalan ini dibentuk daripada aktiviti pembalakan dahulu, penduduk kampung menggunakan jalan tanah liat merah dan tidak berturap ini bertahun lamanya. Biasa dengan keadaan itu, Yok Long mencari laluan yang selamat.

Yok Long have to get off and push his motorbike as it’s too slippery to drive uphill. Hanania follows behind. Yok Long do not want to risk falling off bike.
Yok Long terpaksa turun dan menolak motosikalnya kerana jalan terlalu licin untuk memanjat bukit. Hanania mengikut di belakang. Yok Long tidak mahu mangambil risiko jatuh.

“It’s probably faster and a little safer during dry season. News of villagers slip and fall off their motorbike are common here.” Yok Long shared.
“Mungkin lebih cepat dan sedikit selamat semasa musim kemarau. Cerita penduduk kampung tergelincir dan jatuh dari motosikal mereka adalah perkara biasa di sini.” Yok Long berkongsi.

We finally arrived safely at Kampung Labu. The distance from SK Senderut school hostel to Kampung Labu are only 4 to 5 KM but it took us 40 minutes to arrive due to the rain season that affect the road condition.
Akhirnya kami tiba dengan selamat di Kampung Labu. Jarak dari asrama sekolah SK Senderut ke Kampung Labu hanyalah 4 hingga 5 KM tetapi kami mengambil masa 40 minit untuk tiba kerana musim hujan yang menjejaskan keadaan jalan.

Kampung Labu, a hilltop village, having a spectacular green and cold surrounding. Arriving at noon, most of the villagers went out for hunting or farming.
Kampung Labu, sebuah perkampungan di puncak bukit, dikelilingi persekitaran hijau dan sejuk yang menakjubkan. Tiba di tengah hari, kebanyakan penduduk kampung keluar untuk memburu atau berladang.

I have to ask Yok Long, what about pregnant women? “It’s safer for them to walked to the clinic than risk falling off bike. Usually few weeks or days before their due date, they’ll have to leave to the hospital in Kuala Lipis. An ambulance will pick them up at Pos Senderut Village Clinic if available. Or they ask transportation help from relatives and friends around.” Yok Long explained. The Village Clinic are located beside SK Senderut with the distance around 5KM of walk for pregnant women. And still, there are risk of slipping and fall from the muddy road. What if there’s an emergency? “If in critical emergency, helicopter will be send in for pick up.” Yok Long added.
Saya perlu bertanya kepada Yok Long, bagaimana dengan wanita hamil? “Lebih selamat bagi mereka berjalan untuk pergi ke klinik daripada risiko jatuh motosikal. Biasanya beberapa minggu atau hari sebelum tarikh bersalin, mereka perlu pergi ke hospital di Kuala Lipis. Ambulans akan menjemput mereka di Klinik Desa Pos Senderut jika ada, atau mereka meminta bantuan kenderaan dari saudara-mara dan kawan-kawan di sekitar. ” Yok Long menjelaskan. Klinik Desa terletak di sebelah SK Senderut dengan jarak sekitar 5KM berjalan kaki untuk wanita hamil. Dan masih ada risiko tergelincir dan jatuh dari jalan berlumpur. Bagaimana jika terdapat kecemasan? “Jika dalam kecemasan kritikal, helikopter akan dihantar untuk membantu.” tambah Yok Long.

I asked Hanania, does she like schoolwork. She smiled shyly. So I asked again what does she likes to do if not schoolwork. “I like to draw.” she answer modestly. Watched by her sister, Laina (18), who stop school at form 3, because of difficulties in getting to school. The nearest secondary school takes around 3 hours journey on pickup truck by an indigenous community organisation.
Saya bertanya kepada Hanania, adakah dia suka kerja sekolah. Dia tersenyum malu. Jadi saya bertanya lagi apa yang dia suka lakukan selain kerja sekolah. “Saya suka melukis.” dia menjawab dengan rendah diri. Diperhati oleh kakaknya, Laina (18), yang berhenti sekolah di tingkatan 3, kerana kesulitan ke sekolah. Sekolah menengah yang terdekat mengambil masa perjalanan selama 3 jam dengan kenderaan trak yang disediakan oleh organisasi komuniti orang asli.

Denan (left), the school worker, who are kind to take me on a treacherous road to Kampung Labu. We face the same difficulty as Yok Long even on a dirt bike and fell a couple of time. Certainly a journey I never forget.
Denan (kiri), pekerja sekolah, yang baik hati untuk membawa saya ke Kampung Labu melalui jalan yang merbahaya ini. Kami menghadapi kesukaran yang sama seperti Yok Long walaupun pada motosikal ‘dirt bike’ dan jatuh beberapa kali. Pasti perjalanan yang tidak akan saya lupakan.

I left with many thoughts on my mind. I felt that a proper paved road is crucial for the villager’s safety. And I couldn’t stop thinking for the pregnant women and the ailing in that village when I have easy access to medical care and the luxury to choose any hospitals or doctors.
Saya pulang dengan banyak pandangan di fikiran saya. Saya rasa, jalan berturap yang teguh adalah penting bagi keselamatan penduduk kampung. Dan saya tidak boleh berhenti berfikir untuk wanita hamil dan yang sakit di kampung itu, apabila saya mempunyai akses mudah ke rawatan perubatan dan kemewahan untuk memilih mana-mana hospital atau doktor.

This Series are part of Freedom Film Network published book, “Kami Pun Ada Hak Bersekolah”.