GOOD EDUCATION VITAL: Dawos (seated fourth left) with Unimas Bidayuh lecturers in Unimas and incentive recipients (standing) after the presentation ceremony.
KUCHING: After having brought infrastructure development to Bidayuh areas, Mambong MP Datuk James Dawos Mamit is focussing on the education welfare of the community.
He said he would be emphasising education to enable Bidayuhs to face greater challenges and attain global recognition.
He said his achievement in politics was bringing water supply, electricity and roads to Bidayuh areas, although not all villages had them.
“Politically, I think that we have achieved something, having been able to assist the community to enjoy water and electricity supply and roads.
“So my main concern now is how to produce quality Bidayuh manpower to be on par with other races, to face greater challenges and be able to attain global recognition,” the DeputyTourism Minister said.
He was speaking at the first of its kind cash incentive presentation ceremony for outstanding Bidayuh students from Mambong constituency studying in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).
Some 14 outstanding Bidayuh students received the incentive at Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) headquarters here.
The most outstanding recipient was a fourth- year Civil Engineering student, Andrea Sow, who achieved a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.73 out of 4.0 and hails from Kampung Mundai in Padawan area.
A special incentive was given to Berry Rance Senawi from Padang Pan, who had done well even when faced with financial difficulties during his study at Unimas.
Dawos said the Bidayuh younger generation ought to have good education to move on and become the pride of the community.
“Education is our main asset to become successful and as a Bidayuh politician, I will do my level best to help the community,” he pledged.
Being an educated politician, Dawos pledged to impart his knowledge to the younger generation of the community.
Dawos said the event yesterday, which was his brainchild, was only the beginning and would be extended to Bidayuh students from other constituencies studying in Unimas.
Dawos was pleased with the number of lecturers from the Bidayuh community in Unimas, saying it was at “satisfactory level”.
He singled out Prof Dr Peter Songan who holds the post of deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Innovation) in Unimas.
Dawos also pledged to bring the case of Berry Rance, to the National Higher Educatiion Fund, saying that he was puzzled about Berry’s failure to obtain a loan.