KUCHING: Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan yesterday started the ball rolling when topping up RM40,000 to the total sum of RM83,000 pledged by delegates or branches for the SDNU general education fund.
All in all, the pledge amounted to RM123,000 as of yesterday.
It is believed the money will keep pouring in.
The setting up of the fund to help needy students and their parents pay the initial cost of further studies was endorsed by the delegates attending SDNU’s triennial general assembly (TGA) at BCCK.
The resolution was proposed by SDNU Samarahan branch through their chief Stanley Belayong Pok.
In thanking the branch for the proposal, SIDS president Dato Sri Empiang Jabu who was also appointed vice president moved a motion to make the proposal a resolution for the delegates to decide upon.
After it was endorsed by the delegates unanimously, SIDS through Empiang pledged RM5,000 as seed money to start the general education fund.
She also moved the delegates and observers to do the same and the total collected from them was RM3,000 (included in the total sum of RM123,000).
When met on the sidelines of the TGA, Mawan said: “I am touched by the gesture of branches, delegates and observers. So I will top up with RM40,000 today. The fund is indeed necessary to help needy Dayak students and parents.”
Another important resolution endorsed by the delegates yesterday was the proposed amendment to SDNU constitution to expand the organisational structure of its supreme executive committee (SEC) by creating six senior vice president posts.
Mawan said the proposal would see SDNU becoming more inclusive and many more interested parties or personalities could participate positively for the betterment of the Dayak community.
He said SDNU would always be moderate in its approach.
Candidates for the 2015-2018 SEC who were not contested yesterday were Mawan (president), Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi (deputy president), Chambai Lindong (assistant secretary-general), Christopher Gira (treasurer-general) and Churchill E Drem (Youth chief). The rest of the posts were contested.