LOCAL NEWS - New weight-loss program for Penan students.

LONG LELLANG (Ulu Baram, Miri): 106 students Penan boys and girls at Sekolah Kebangsaan Long Lellang have been chosen to test-pilot the governments new fitness program to address a growing problem of obesity among young people.


"It is a great success," says local health official, Bujang Mahmud.


"100 percent of the students have experienced rapid weight loss in just the first 6 months." The students are treated to a nutritious meal of papaya's and porridge once a day.




"Three meals a day is just a modern day greedy norm. Many people all over the world can even do just half a meal a day." The fact that these same people are also dying like flies is because of unhygienic practices, and not because of their lack of food.



"They dont wash their hands before they eat, those Africans."


He says that weighing lighter than a small cat is a healthy state to be in for children at that age.



picture- Penan students


The Penan and Kelabit parents, however, have not shown proper co-operation. Most parents secretly give their children rice, fish and vegetables when visting the school.


"It is outrageous." says one school official. "How can we reach the governments mission and vision when citizens do not co-operate."



Their lack of patriotism is appalling, yet officials are not worried as "these jungle people dont have that much food to give away anyway."


"What do you think the jungle is? Tesco?"


He says that the parents will give up eventually and "a nation of healthy, clever children will be born."


as reported by Zakaria M.


source: the star