OUTSTANDING: Fatimah presents a certificate to one of the recipients.
BINTULU: The Kelabit community is the most literate indigenous group in Sarawak even though they make up just 0.4 per cent of the state’s total population of 1.5 million, said Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah.
She said although small in number, they should be proud of their outstanding academic achievement.
Speaking at the Rurum Kelabit Sarawak 12th annual education excellence awards 2013 at Parkcity Everly Hotel here last Saturday night, Fatimah said the individual pursuit of lifelong learning among the Kelabits had resulted in 90 per cent of them being literate as most of them attended adult classes after leaving school.
“At least 1,000 have sat for their Form Five examinations. At least 10 per cent of the population have obtained diplomas, degrees, post-graduate degrees and professional qualifications,” she disclosed.
She added that their remarkable educational attainment had enabled the community to produce many prominent and distinguished individuals in various sectors such as the civil service, corporate sector, academic field, health and medicine, law, theology and even as community leaders.
Their service and contribution was not confined within Malaysia only but also abroad and they were also equally remarkable in voluntary bodies by helping not only their own community but also others, she pointed out.
“How do you account for the success of the Kelabits? Deeply ingrained and interwoven in the socio cultural fabric and belief system of the community is the value of education, that can overcome poverty and provide a better life,” she elaborated. She attributed their success to discipline, hard work, integrity and religion besides unity, strong sense of brother and sisterhood and being always on the lookout for one another.
“Despite their remarkable success and achievement, the Kelabits remain very attached and very proud of their roots, humble, respectful of others and socialise well with others irrespective of race and religion.
“All these attributes are exemplary to other communities in our quest to become a developed, harmonious and united Malaysia,” said Fatimah before announcing a grant of RM3,000 to the Sarawak Rurum Kelabit Association.
Students who performed well were not only given awards but also brought to Samalaju to expose them to industrial development, including oil and gas industry.