Volvo Trucks Malaysia recently put into place a fantastic corporate social responsibility initiative for the people at the Bario Asal Lembaa Longhouse settlement . The Swedish truck and bus manufacturer funded and is building a fire-fighting system for the people of the Bario longhouse and the construction of Eco-Shelters along the 25km ancestral trail to make trekking for the community and also for visitors a little bit easier .
Called the Volvo Group Seasonal Gift programme to the Kelabit community of Bario in Sarawak, Volvo Trucks, which are part of the Volvo Group, is one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers continues to give back to society here in Malaysia. Like any large global company, their aim for a safer and more sustainable future is usually what they have in store when it comes to CSR initiatives and how the company wishes to give back to a society.
The Seasonal Gift programme's objective is to foster prosperity and promote sustainability for the communities where Volvo Trucks operates. In Malaysia, Bario, which is located in Sarawak was chosen as the recipient of the Volvo Trucks-funded RM500,000 Seasonal Gift contribution with the intention of improving the living standard of the Kelabit community.
Volvo Trucks' Bario initiative is a two pronged initiative. The first is the construction of a fire-fighting system with a water tank and eight hose reels for the Bario Asal Lembaa longhouse settlement (photo above). This is quite a historical settlement where there is a longhouse in the area which dates back to 1958. Since longhouses are made of wood, and this is quite a historical building due to its age, the fire-fighting system is intended to safeguard lives and the longhouse. Such a building is the pride of the community as well as a tourism draw and a living historical monument.
The second initiative entails the construction of five eco-shelters (photo above) located about 5km apart from one to another along the 25km length of the Bario ancestral trail. The eco-shelters is intented to make the tough jungle trekking journey more manageable for locals, hikers and tourists. The eco-shelters are equipped with working toilets via a sustainable water harvesting system and provides a safe resting area for those intending to journey through the area. It will take about five to six days of trekking to reach the last eco-shelter.
So the construction of the shelters wasn't as straightforward as it seems as all the materials needed were carried on the backs of porters and shelters had to be hand built using easy to carry tools. But the benefit for this is that it would make the journey a little more comfortable and could actually encourage more tourists to the area thereby adding more income for the people of the Bario.
(L-R) Laju Balang @ Aren Lemulun, Headman of Bario Asal Lembaa longhouse, Mats Nilsson, Managing Director, Volvo Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Dag Juhlin-Dannfelt, Ambassador of Sweden to Malaysia and Penghulu Robertson Bala during the momento handover ceremony
The Bario project first broke ground sometime mid-2017 and was completed in December 2017. The official handover event of the fire-fighting system and the Eco-shelters was held recently at Bario Asal Lembaa longhouse settlement. The event was attended and launched by Dag Juhlin-Dannfelt, Ambassador of Sweden to Malaysia, Mats Nilsson, Managing Director, Volvo Malaysia, Penghulu Robertson Bala, and Laju Balang @ Aren Lemulun, Headman of Bario Asal Lembaa longhouse.
The whole undertaking is quite interesting actually. I was informed that the journey to Bario isn't as straightforward as it seems. Even the MASwings community airline flight in to Bario from Miri was in a tiny Twin Otter aircraft. Driving there from Miri could take 14 hours or more. And then there's the short hike in. Oh, when you fly with the Twin Otter, your weight and your luggage must be calculated. Every gram is taken into account. So if you think your budget airline is stingy, wait till you fly a Twin Otter to the heart of Sabah or Sarawak.
The initiative also received the full support and partnership from Sarawak Tourism and Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC). Volvo Trucks Malaysia also wishes to thank CM Global Sdn Bhd, Dai Lieng Machinery Sdn Bhd, AirAsia Berhad, MAS Wings Sdn Bhd, Perk Events, CJ Bug Production and LNT Advertising Associates for their support.
“The primary objective of our Seasonal Gift contribution and other corporate social responsibility initiatives is to give back to various stakeholders in the society. Volvo’s commitment to social, environmental and economic responsibility has been carried out yearly since the day the business started. Our dedication to this commitment means that we support a range of health and safety projects that are in line with our core values of quality, safety and environmental care.” said Mats Nilsson, Managing Director, Volvo Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
“This initiative for Bario is one of 14 projects being carried out in different countries globally under our Seasonal Gift programme which was first announced in December 2016. In addition, Malaysia is one out of only two countries in Asia that was chosen and it is indeed a privilege for us to put our funds to good use,” Nilsson added, making the people of Bario a lucky community indeed.
Laju Balang @ Aren Lemulun, Headman of Bario Asal Lembaa said (in his own language, translated for us normal folk to understand - but not using Google Translator as that would make things sound really funny...or terrible. Wait, do they have the language in the first place?),....
“We are incredibly grateful for all of the work Volvo Trucks has put in for these two projects – the fire-fighting system and the eco-shelters. To have a partner who shares our vision for heritage and the environment has been a dream come true. For us, this has been more than corporate social responsibility – it has been an opportunity to learn from experts in leadership, quality and the environment. These projects will have a profound impact on the community here for generations to come.”
“Our community has humble beginnings. This longhouse, Bario Asal Lembaa, is the oldest in Bario as our forefathers are the first settlers to this area that we have come to share, build and grow with other longhouses to make Bario what it is today. It is a living piece of history that must be protected and preserved. We enjoy modern amenities now but we remain very traditional in our communal way of life. We are close-knit, caring and cooperative as a community. The traditional way of life here is not that easy, but it is a special place and we have a responsibility to ensure our longhouse and our traditions get passed on. This responsibility includes sustaining the environment that surrounds us and provides for our well-being.” He continued.
Laju Balang also added that, “...There are six to seven longhouses fires every year in Sarawak. The trauma of losing such a place of history and heritage is devastating. It has been a real fear for us that it would happen here. Therefore, the decision of Volvo Trucks Malaysia to partner with us, in building this fire-fighting system has given us the tools to overcome the worst, should it happen. It eases our worries and empowers our people. Today, we stand here with not just a fire-fighting system for our longhouse but the FIRST fire hose reel system of any longhouses in Sarawak’s fourth division, as told by the contractor. What we have achieved together, will inspire the longhouses surrounding us.”
"The building of five eco-shelters along our ancestral trail will help the Kelabit and Penan communities living in Bario. It is our responsibility to maintain and look after the eco-shelters well and protect the environment. We want to be able to share the rugged beauty of this area and educate on the importance of conservation and sustainability to our younger generations, preserving the environment and heritage of Bario for the world." Laju Balang continued.
Bario is a community of 13 to 16 villages located on the Kelabit Highlands in the Miri Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. It location has an altitude of 1000 m above sea level. It is 178km east of Miri and located close to the Sarawak-Kalimantan, Indonesia border. The area is the main settlement for the indigenous Kelabit tribe that has been living in Bario for more than 4,000 years.
Today the Kelabit, like many of the indigenous or 'orang asli' tribes in Malaysia are faced with challenges such as modernisation and deforestation. Over the years, about 65% of the younger population in Bario have migrated out due to the lack of facilities and jobs in Bario. Today, it is estimated that just slightly more than 1,000 Kelabit people are still living in Bario.
Under the Economic Transformation Programme, the Government of Malaysia aims to establish Bario as the world-class hub destination for AgroBiodiversity and to obtain UNESCO World Heritage Status. There is now more towards sustainability and more support from them compared to previously.
Volvo Trucks Malaysia is in support of new found awareness. According to Mats Nilsson, “We have undertaken this project with hopes to not only enhance safety, but to also help create more tourism-related jobs for the community by providing the eco-shelters, thus providing an income source which could potentially reduce the out-migration of Kelabit youths. In the long-run, Volvo Trucks hopes to help sustain the community and its culture.”
The Volvo Group’s corporate three pillar social responsibility approach means that the company aims to create value for customers, employees, shareholders and society. They want to contribute to the long-term sustainable development of a country where they sell their products. It is the responsible thing to do according to them. So, the majority of Volvo Trucks’ social commitments take place at local level – where the company and its employees can make a big difference as well as see, explore the heartlands of the country far from the hustle and bustle of Malaysia's urban centres.
Bario Airport from the Air By Pavel Kirillov from St.Petersburg, Russia - Approaching Bario, Kelabit Highlands, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46850517
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