Abdillah (eighth right) presenting certificate of Jatti Meirek Berhad Cooperative to the association secretary Ujut Rahman (tenth right) witnessed by Abang Johari (tenth left), Juma’ani (ninth left), Awang Tengah (ninth right), Abdul Karim (eighth right) and other dignitaries.
MIRI: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg brought two special new year gifts for Jatti Meirek Association of Miri last night.
The first gift was in the form of sponsorship from Yayasan Sarawak for thesis research works on the culture and language aspect of the Jatti Meirek community.
Another gift was government financial support totalling RM100,000 for the association to publish the second edition of its language guide book.
Abang Johari who is also the chairman of Yayasan Sarawak, made this announcement when he officiated the 2018 Jatti Meirek Charity Dinner at Imperial Hotel here.
On the academic research work for thesis purpose, he said the sponsorship is open to those who are pursuing master’s and doctorate (PhD) degrees in the field of sociology study.
He added that sociologists will help the association to collect accurate information on the origins of the Jatti Meirek community from the perspective of language, culture, history and arts.
He viewed this effort seriously as a way to preserve the identity of the Jatti Meirek community from being forgotten by young generation due to the current modern living.
On the language guide book, the Chief Minister and his deputy Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan have agreed to provide a government grant of RM50,000 respectively for the second edition of the language guide book publication.
With such financial support, Abang Johari hoped it will help the association to improve the content of its 1998 publication.
The guidebook was published to help ensure the survival of the Meirek language, which is now less spoken by the younger generation.
Also those present were Abang Johari’s wife Datin Patinggi Dato Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Assistant Minister of E-Commerce Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, Assistant Minister of Coastal Road Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Assistant Minister of Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus, Sibuti MP Datuk Ahmad Lai Bujang, Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat, Mulu assemblyman Dato Gerawat Gala, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, Miri Resident Sherina Sauni, Miri mayor Adam Yii, president of the association Datuk Abdillah Abdul Rahim and organising chairman Jamel Ibrahim.