Recipients of the SIDS education incentives in a photo call with (second back row – from seventh left) Pemanca Wilson Siang Lim, Ting, Antonio, Mary and other VIPs.
MIRI: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), particularly community or racial-based organisations, need to take the lead in complementing the government’s effort on improving the quality of education in the country.
Resident of Miri Division, Antonio Kahti Galis, said the move is in line with the nation’s vision of becoming a developed industrialised and high income nation.
“Community associations play an equally important role in getting the various people, particularly the rural folks, to prioritise quality education to bring them out of the poverty circle. Good education is a ‘must’ to acquire skills to improve the quality of life. I too shared with many people of various races which helped me to acquire a good education. Otherwise I wouldn’t be where I am now… probably I would still be a poor bumpkin,” he said while officiating at the Sarakup Induk Dayak Sarawak (Sarawak Dayak Women Association or SIDS) Miri Gawai dinner on Saturday night.
Antonio was representing the Public Utilities Assistant Minister, Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran, who donated RM10,000 in government grant to SIDS.
Antonio commended SIDS for being among the many NGOs in the state relentlessly making a concerted effort to spur the Dayak community to excel in their education. He pointed out that their tradition of giving educational incentives annually to students who score in public examinations should be continued.
This year, the association gave cash incentives of up to RM200 to each student who obtained excellent results in SPM (Form 5), RM150 for PT3 (Form 3), RM100 for UPSR (Std 6), apart from certificates, as well as incentives to families who have churned out graduates.
He also commended SIDS Miri branch for holding the dinner to celebrate the Gawai Dayak Festival as well as enhancing ties and closer rapport.
Apart from the education incentive among other entertainment programmes were ‘ngajat’ and poco-poco dance, karaoke session as well as solo performance by renowned recording artiste Lipee.
Among the 300 diners were representatives of the various political parties and NGOs including secretary-general of the Sarawak United People’s Party, Datuk Sebastian Ting, community leaders, SIDS Miri chairperson Mary Bajang and dinner organiser Margaret Bennet Serit.