DBNA excited about CM’s promise for Pandelela
Posted on August 17, 2012, Friday
Pandelela Rinong
KUCHING: The Bidayuh community is anxious to know what special gift Olympics medallist Pandelela Rinong Pamg will receive from Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Taib had recently promised that he would announce the special gift for Pandelela when he meets up with the diving bronze medallist upon returning home from London.
In this regard, Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) exco member Joseph Jindy said the association hoped the Sarawak government would reward Pandelela handsomely for her gigantic effort.
“Pandelela deserves to be rewarded handsomely for her more than 10 years’ hard work and sacrifices as well as the pride and honours she won for the nation and state,” said Jindy, who is from Kampung Tembawang Sauh, Bau and a cousin of Pandelela’s father.
According to Jindy, Sarawakians are proud of Pandelela’s feat and rewarding her handsomely would inspire other Malaysian youths to excel in international level competitions.
He said it would be nice for her and her family to be given at least a top-notch detached house on a big piece of land in a prime area.
“Both Pandelela and her family have sacrificed a lot, with her being away from her home in Kuching to be trained in Kuala Lumpur from a very young age.
“Her father is a construction worker and her mother a housewife,” added Jindy.
He said when the Sidek family won medals in badminton at the Olympic Games, their children and father were rewarded and honoured handsomely by the government.
“They were given houses and land. As such, we also want the state government to do the same to Pandelela and her family.
“Her parents should also be recognised and appreciated for their sacrifices for more than ten years in supporting their two children including Pardika Indoma (also a national diver) to what they are today. It will be a morale booster and we also want our future generation to be grateful,” added Jindy.
On a related development, he also informed that at a DBNA meeting chaired by its advisor Dato Sri Michael Manyin on Wednesday night, they discussed and had arranged for an appreciation dinner for Pandelela and three other Sarawak Olympians Bryan Nickson Lomas and Trasy Vivian Tukiet on August 22.
The dinner will be held at the association’s multi-purpose hall at Jalan Kumpang, Off Jalan Ong Tiang Swee here. Jindy said 60 dinner tables are now on sale at RM500 each.
Jindy also said the proceeds from the dinner will be donated to Pandelela Rinong and Trasy Vivien who is also a Bidayuh from Kampung Serumah in Bau District, while DBNA has left it to the Iban associations to do something to help Bryan Nickson.
On the reception programme for Pandelela and two other Sarawak Olympians, Jindy said they will arrive at Kuching International Airport on August 21 at 11.50am and will be given the traditional Bidayuh hero’s welcome.
At KIA, they will be received by their supporters and members of the public. Later, the Ministry of Social Development and Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) will take them to tour the city including the Kuching Waterfront and Padungan where members of the public can get a glimpse of them.
“After that they will proceed to a restaurant at Dewan Suarah to attend the’ berbuka puasa’ with the chief minister and other VIPs, where Taib will announce the special gift for Pandelela,” said Jindy.
Meanwhile, DBNA president Datu Ik Pahon Joyik said DBNA is very proud of Pandelela’s achievement and wants to honour the athlete.
“For the Bidayuh community, we are very proud of her success because it happened that a Bidayuh lady has become the first Malaysian woman to have ever won a medal at the Olympic Games,” added Ik Pahon.
Ik Pahon described Pandelela as a role model for the youths, adding that her sacrifice and hard work should be emulated.
<< Previous Entry - Next Entry >>
