Taib, flanked by Henry and YJJ chairman William Jinep (right), looks at the YJJ logo. Henry and William’s father John Jinep is on the wheelchair at far left.
KUCHING: The newly-launched Yayasan John Jinep (YJJ) got off to a good start with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud donating RM50,000 to this first charity foundation created solely for the Bidayuhs.
Taib, who made the pledge at the launch of YJJ on Sunday night, said it was timely for the Bidayuh community to have a foundation to provide financial aid to needy students among them to further their education.
He also called on others, particularly successful Bidayuhs, to also contribute to this foundation so that it could achieve its objectives.
“I’m very confident that with the growing number of qualified Bidayuh people, the Bidayuh community would be well established and I’m sure they would continue to progress well,” he said.
The launch event was the highlight of Putra Sentosa Enterprise’s 15th anniversary and corporate dinner that took place at a hotel here on Sunday.
On Putra Sentosa, Taib said its Group chief executive officer Dato Henry Harry Jinep was proof that Bidayuhs could also succeed in business.
He said the success of Putra Sentosa Group of Companies, which had implemented more than RM300 million worth of works over the past 10 years, reminded him of the success achieved by another home-grown company, Naim Cendera.
Touching on new business opportunities for Sarawak, he called on Bumiputera and Chinese companies in the state to work together in order to realise Sarawak’s potential as a ‘food basket’.
He said Sarawak should use its strategic location in Asia as an advantage to develop food industries to meet the demand in this region.
“Business knows no racial barriers. It is dependent on efforts, skills and ability to cooperate with any parties that can serve our common interests.
“Let us stop conflicts among Bumiputeras or with other races in Sarawak, and focus more on increasing cooperation to expand business,” he said.
Earlier, Henry in his speech said YJJ was launched on Putra Sentosa’s 15th anniversary as a way for the company to give back and share their love with the community.
He explained YJJ aimed to assist well-deserving smart young Bidayuh students, particularly those from poor families.
“It is through our own experience which inspired us to form this Yayasan John Jinep as we know the feeling of having no pocket money while in the beginning of, or while pursuing higher education, which is like swimming into the deep dark ocean with no oxygen supply.
“Therefore, we hope that this Yayasan could assist a little bit in easing the difficulties,” he said.
Henry expressed his appreciation to individuals who have committed to contribute to YJJ; namely Dato Sri Michael Manyin, Anthony Nogeh, Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Dato Richard Khoo Teng San, Ranum Mina, Ng Thong Yong, Kapitan Koh Soon Hock, Ling Kui Kong and Ling Pick Shie.
He also mentioned that this year marked many successes for the company, including winning the Malaysian Construction Industry Excellence Awards Contractor Grade 6 for the third consecutive year and the Excellent Bumiputera Entrepreneur Award.
Meanwhile, Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin expressed confidence that YJJ would be the impetus to creating more middle-class Bidayuhs.
The Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) chief advisor reiterated that the only choice for the Bidayuhs to achieve upward mobility would be through excellence in education.
Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Sarawak Rivers Board controller William Jinep who is the YJJ standing committee chairman, and Samarahan Walikota Dato Peter Minos were among those at the dinner.