Long Laput

Long Laput
Long Laput
Coordinates: 3°44′05″N 114°25′41″E / 3.7348°N 114.428°E
Country	Malaysia
State	Sarawak
Administrative Division	Marudi
Elevation	233 m (764 ft)
Population	2,000

Long Laput (also known as Laput) is a settlement in the rural interior of the Marudi division of Sarawak, Malaysia.^[1][2] It lies approximately 514.3 kilometres (320 mi) east-north-east of the state capital Kuching.

Description

Long Laput is one of the biggest villages along the Baram River and the majority of the inhabitants belong to the Kayan tribe.^[3] The estimated population is 2000 people, most of whom live in longhouses.^[4] In the late 1950s the main longhouse was reputed to be the longest in Borneo, being 700 metres in length.^[5][6] The main source of income is agriculture, including rice, pepper, rubber and increasingly palm oil; one oil palm estate extends to 2500 acres.^[7] Livestock include freshwater fish farming and cattle which graze the oil palm plantation.^[8]

Development

The history of the village dates back at least to the 1920s, but a significant change started in 1950 with the arrival of the Borneo Evangelical Church, followed by Roman Catholics in 1956. Schools were built in 1956 and a health clinic was opened in the village. The longhouses were constructed from bamboo and thatched with leaves. Unfortunately, a 70-family longhouse was destroyed by fire in 1987. Longhouses are now constructed using bricks, and the village now has modern infrastructure,^[9] including running water, electricity, sports facilities, a public library and public telephones.^[10] The library also provides internet access, photocopying and scanning.^[11] The school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Long Laput, provides education and accommodation for 192 students, with a teaching staff of twelve.^[12]

Threats

If the Baram Bam hydroelectric project goes ahead, Long Laput will be one of the villages affected by the flooding of 389,000 hectares of jungle.^[13]

Neighbouring settlements

Neighbouring settlements include:^[2]

• Lirong Kawit 0.7 kilometres (0.4 mi) southeast
• Long Lama 4.7 kilometres (2.9 mi) northwest
• Batu Gading 7.7 kilometres (4.8 mi) north
• Long Puak 9.1 kilometres (5.7 mi) north
• Rumah Ingkot 12.7 kilometres (7.9 mi) west
• Long Banio 13.1 kilometres (8.1 mi) north
• Uma Bawang Kanan 14.1 kilometres (8.8 mi) south
• Uma Bawang Kiri 14.8 kilometres (9.2 mi) south
• Rumah Banyi 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north
• Rumah Jelian 15.2 kilometres (9.4 mi) northwest

References

1. M. Mohizah, S. Julia and W. K. Soh (2006). A Sarawak Gazetteer (PDF). Kuala Lumpur: Sarawak Forestry Department Malaysia and Forest Research Institute Malaysia. ISBN 983-2181-86-0. OCLC 85818866. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
2. "Long Laput, Malaysia". Geonames. 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
3. "Telang Usan: Long Laput, Middle Baram". 2011-01-03. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
4. "Long Laput – Population". 2011-01-03. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
5. Guy Arnold (1959). Longhouse and jungle: an expedition to Sarawak. Chatto and Windus. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
6. Jérôme Rousseau (1990). Central Borneo: ethnic identity and social life in a stratified society. Clarendon Press. ISBN 978-0-19-827716-3. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
7. "Long Laput – Socio-Economics". Retrieved 2011-01-03.
8. "Long Laput – Livestock and Fisheries". Retrieved 2011-01-03.
9. "Long Laput – History". Retrieved 2011-01-03.
10. "Long Laput – Facilities". Retrieved 2011-01-03.
11. "Long Laput – USP". Retrieved 2011-01-03.
12. "Long Laput – Education". Retrieved 2011-01-03.
13. Rania Paran (2010-11-04). "Keratan Akhbar Online" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-01-02.