Awang Tengah(third left) presenting the excellence service award to one of the recipients while (from left) Dr Abdul Rahman, Asfia , Mohamad and Hasbi look on.
LIMBANG: Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan has proposed to the federal government to set up a teachers training institute in Limbang Division.
Awang Tengah said this is in line with the aspiration to produce more teachers for the state towards realising the aspiration of producing human resources who can compete in the global market.
“I have written to the federal government and is counting on Limbang and Lawas MPs to push hard for it,” he said at the Limbang Division Education Excellent Service Awards presentation ceremony at Limbang Civic Centre yesterday.
There are currently three teachers training institute campuses in the state — Sarawak campus in Miri, Tun Abdul Razak campus in Samarahan and Batu Lintang campus in Kuching.
Awang Tengah said educationists played a vital role as the front-liners in moulding a competitive and progressive society in a knowledge-driven economy but they must always emphasise on the importance of maintaining the social fabric of unity and solidarity.
“Teach our children to respect each other, and this is vital in inculcating harmony and stability in the society and the ingredient of moving our state and country forward with an intelligent society,” he said.
Awang Tengah added that stability was the cornerstone of progress especially in a diverse setting like Sarawak.
“Without stability and unity, it would be unthinkable of achieving the development that we have enjoyed in the past 50 years of Independence which have transformed our economic structure and social progress, “ he said.
Awang Tengah said he and other northern Sarawak leaders, including the late Dr Jusdon Sakai Tagal, had strived hard to put development and progress of Limbang Division to be on par with others.
He commended the educationists in Limbang Division for achievements in making the division among the top five ranking among the 11 divisions in the UPSR and SPM examinations last year.
Also present at the function were DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Limbang MP Hasbi Habibolah, Bukit Kota assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang, Limbang Resident Maria Hasman and Limbang District Education Officer Mohamad bin Tangah.