Bruno Manser Fonds
Basel/Switzerland, February 24th 2000
Bruno Manser's offer for a Mobile Dental Clinic is sincere
Industrial Minister Datuk Abang Johari refused Bruno Manser's offer to Taib Mahmud to help to improve the Penan's living conditions and to protect their forests. He called that offer an “old trick” (New Straits Times January 8th). The offer had been sent together with an original drawing of Taib by Bruno himself timely for the Hari Raya celebrations, but the letter was withheld by custom authorities for unknown reasons.
As a proof of our sincere intentions we (the Bruno-Manser-Fonds) increase the starting capital for the proposed mobile dental clinic for the Penan and Kelabit to MYR 65'000,00! We are confident to get the remaining means of 398'000 Ringgit from public donations by launching a fund raising campaign as soon as the Chief Minister approves the clinic project.
The proposal is based on the vast experience of the Swiss organization International Dental Help (SDI, Secours Dentaire International), which has successfully implemented a dozen of similar projects in different countries.
Although the Penan have lived for centuries in harmony with their environment, the virgin rain-forest, most of them have rotten teeth due to a high consumption of wild fruits: the fruit acids attack the enamel of teeth and cause them to rot. The proposed clinic would give the Penan the possibilities to care for their teeth prophylactically or to remedy urgent cases.
Appropriate sites for two year's running are Long Seridan and Long Lelleng,
where Malaysian Airlines can provide transport for staff and gear to serve
all Kelabit, semi-settled and nomadic Penan within the area. It is up
to the Chief Minister to appoint a dentist of his choice for the project.
Uian Ngang, a Penan from Ulu Limbang, says:
“We, the Penan, ask you the Chief Minister to support the project, for which Bruno has already offered a lot of money. Why has help not yet reached us? Why do people from far away support the project, while you - as Chief Minister a big man in our country - do not care for us by showing a clear “Adat” (custom)? Only when help will have arrived, will we get to know you” !