User:203.82.95.118/The Hidden History of Tangap Village
Tangap people originally came from Separai Tatau (Bintulu division). The history began an early 1930’s when number of people lead by Ugop Anak Bali migrates from Separai Tatau. They were used boat as main transportation on that time. Along the journey they had stopped at few places to take a break. They were stayed for one night at Semilajau before continue sailing towards Niah rivers.
From Niah Rivers they moved to outfall and they had built temporary houses while waiting for next sailing. During that time they found a tributary (few miles before the outfall) and Ugop Anak Bali had discussed with his people to get permission from Orang Penan (The Landlord) to keep explore the place. After got the permission from Orang Penan, Ugop Anak Bali and his people start to build their first long house in 1935.
The land border given to them so limited (only at Mejam area) and it make them start to find their own lands. In 1950, numbers of family keep increase and they still hunting for new lands until they get caught by the authorities because cross the border at Saoh Rivers. As punishment they need to pay $15.00 for each family.
In economic sector, the villagers began with the cocoa and hill rice in 1960. The government starts to give them subsidy in 1980 to increase their crop yields. Mostly they exchange it for money to buy daily necessities and keep for them too. Usually they sell the crops to Chinese guys at Sepupok Niah (small market) and the only way to get there just by boat for 1-2 hours every way. In 1996, government once again gave the subsidy for local villagers to help them gain their money income. But, for this time government gave oil palm seedlings for them so that they will not focus on one crop yields only. Meanwhile, global economic crisis cause the price of cocoa and paddy became unpredictable. Government has given those 148 of oil palm breeding for 87 families and one year after that 107 families were got the same amounts.
In the other hands, few of local men still involved in collecting bird nest at Niah Cave. The income is good enough but it quite dangerous because they need to climb the rock to collect the bird nest. In 1995, Homestay program was introduced by the Malaysia tourism ministry to encourage outsiders come and have experience stay with local people. The location of the long house not quite far from Niah Cave has made it famous and tourists keep this as an opportunity to know more about the long house.
The long house located at middle of rural area and the only way to reach that place only by the Tangap River. They used boats at main transportation to get connect with other people and at the same time selling their crops (paddy, cocoa, pepper etc). They slowly using road after the timber company’s start explore the area. They are used the same road even until now to send palm fruit bunches to the mill using trucks. The road currently paved by gravel.
In Tangap’s village there also had a primary school named Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Tangap. It was open since 1958 but demolished in 1970 to provide another big primary school. In 2006, government was opened the kindergarten next to primary school. For secondary students, they continued their studies at SMK Subis and stayed at hostel as the long house quite for from the school.
Until now, there is no 24 hours electricity and clean water provided for the long house. But, after the previous election there was few mega project directed to the long house and hopefully government fulfill their promises to keep the long house up-to-date. This is not only for the villagers but for the tourist’s benefit that stayed with us.