Long Laput | |
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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 district of Sarawak, Malaysia.[1][2] It lies approximately 514.3 kilometres (320 mi) east-north-east of the state capital Kuching.
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]
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]
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 include:[2]