MIRI: 500 students from 16 primary schools in Baram Ulu zone took part in the three-day 32nd Baram District Primary School Sports Council (MSSR) Zonal Meet which ended at SK St. Pius in Long San yesterday.
The annual championship served as a platform to select athletes from the zone to compete in the Baram District Primary School Sports Council (MSSR) sports carnival to be held in Marudi in January next year.
The 16 schools were SK Long Jeeh, SK Long Makabar, SK Long Jekitan, SK Long Sait, SK Long Banga, SK Long Lamei, SK Lio Mato, SK Long Tungan, SK Long Moh, SK Long Panai, SK Long Anap, SK Long Apu and SK St Pius.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau officiated at the opening of the meet.
“Through sports, students are exposed to many things and they will learn new things in sports. Sports provide opportunities for students to be competitive and strive harder for wins,” he remarked.
On the rural development programme in Baram, he said the government was always concerned about the future of the Orang Ulu people.
“We do not want that one day there will be no one living in Baram. We want to work with the people of Baram to transform this area and lift the quality and standard of living of the people through development,” he added.
One way for the community in Baram to help develop their own area, he urged, was to encourage and ensure that all their children go to school and be educated.
“I have said this many times, that there is no other way to succeed in life if not through education.”
He announced a RM 10,000 grant for Baram Ulu zone to be used for preparation and expenses to send athletes to the upcoming MSSR in Marudi.
He also chipped in another RM 6,000 for the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) of SK St Pius and RM 3,000 each for all participating schools except SK Long Jeeh, SK Long Jekitan and SK Long Makabar.