SIPITANG: Nestled in the heart of Borneo, the people of Long Pasia here continue to live peacefully despite the Covid-19 pandemic and global economic crises.
Even though the village is located in the district that recorded four Covid-19 cases with three of them having recovered from the illness, none of the 300 villagers is infected.
Lait Lakong, 48, said the total ban on the entry of visitors, as well as villagers who might have been infected based on their travel history, had helped ensure zero cases in the village.
Long Pasia, which means “the mouth of the red river” in the Lundayeh language, is 112km from Sipitang.
It is renowned for its ecotourism, culture and rich history, especially among Europeans.
Lait, a forest guide for the past 16 years, said he was not worried about having his income affected due to the lack of tourism activities.
“If I contract Covid-19 from tourists, I would be the one affected. This will be the time for me to focus on my drawings and other things,” he said, adding that he had been selling his paintings all over the world.
He said the people in Long Pasia were self-sufficient and did not have a lot of financial commitments compared with those living in the city.
“Some of the households here have between 70 and 200 gunny sacks of rice. We can always get food from natural sources. The villagers do not need to go out. We have a clinic here.”
He said the ban on the entry of outsiders made villagers feel safe.
He said none of the people here wore face masks when they were moving around the village.
He said they avoided mass gatherings.
“Although no outsiders are allowed, especially since the implementation of the Movement Control Order, we made an exception for a Kuala Lumpur visitor and his Russian wife, who have a foster family here.
“The couple arrived here two months ago. They want to stay in Long Pasia. With the worsening Covid-19 crisis, they think it is safer to stay here,” he said, adding that the wife is three months pregnant.