HIGHLIGHT OF THE CELEBRATION: (fourth to tenth left) Paul, Dahim, Alexander, Mawan, Bangsa, Rheinald and Angelina joined by others join in the cake cutting ceremony.
KAPIT: Senior Minister and Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation Sarawak, Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom called on Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) Kapit not to confine their roles and activities on social cultures but to diversify to be more relevant in facing new challenges.
“The world is changing and to meet the challenges that come with it, women folks need to focus their agenda to suit modern day living. SIDS also needs to focus on other fields and to go beyond their horizon into socio-economic activities that could bring the organisation to greater heights” said Mawan.
He said this while officiating at Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) Kapit branch gathering held at the Civic Centre on Friday evening to coincide with this year’s World Women’s Day celebration themed ‘Wanita Bersatu Inspirasi Masa Depan’.
Mawan, who is also the President of Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU), also told the Dayak women folks the need to identify pressing social issues among the community including land matters such as NCR that has been discussed by politicians and the government.
“Dayak women also need to know those issues and given the opportunity to solve and talk on the issues as among them were many intellectuals who can share and impart their knowledge to the other members and moving them forward,” explained Mawan.
To beef up the current strength and growth of SIDS here, Mawan called on the members to be more proactive in recruiting new members to join the association.
“Get more members to join the association. Members need to grow in numbers from year to year. The more members we have the lesser will be our burden and responsibility as we share the responsibility. As we progress and move forward our task will get more complicated and challenging and with many members we can do wonders and even the difficult tasks could become easier,” he pointed out. On other development, Mawan called on SIDS to consider looking into new changes in their organisation.
“As we are aware that most, if not all, SIDS members are from the Iban community. SDNU has been looking into this and we are in the process of reviewing and amending the constitution so as to be inclusive as far as membership is concerned to accommodate or include our Dayak ethnic groups such as Orang Ulu and Bidayuh.
Among those present at the gathering were Member of Parliament for Kapit, Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi and his wife Datin Angelina Celestine Ujang; Kapit Resident Dahim Nadot; political secretaries to the Chief Minister Sarawak, Paul Igai and Tengku Geruna; chairperson of SIDS Kapit, Rheineld Minor Panyau; SIDS Sibu branch members include its chairperson, successful Iban entrepreneur, Bansa Untang; heads of the various government departments, community leaders and some 800 SIDS members and guests.