Uggah hits the gong to declare open the 4-day symposium.
BINTULU: Several resolutions from the 7th Iban Cultural Symposium which is being held at Promenade Hotel here will be presented to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg when he closes the symposium today.
This was disclosed by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah when he declared open the symposium at a welcome dinner here on Thursday.
The symposium carries the theme ‘Optimising our resources: Leveraging on the digital economy for greater prosperity’.
Uggah said that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government under the leadership of Abang Johari listens and responds to the needs of the people.
“We want feedback from the people so that we can formulate programmes beneficial for them. The policies of the GPS government is inclusive, taking into account the interest of all races,” he added.
He added the symposium is a good platform for the Iban community to reflect on their performances in all aspects of their lives politically, economically and socially.
“It is the meeting of minds; of how we can chart the future direction of the communities.”
He also talked about several initiatives of the government in effort to transform Sarawak into a developed state by 2030, and provide a much better life for the people.
Uggah, who is also Minister of the Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, also talked at length about amendment to the Sarawak Land Code, which is still being discussed and debated in social media.
“It seems that they do not have other things to do but to criticise and shoot at the government on this issue.
“We have explained as much as we can about the benefit of the amendment; to find solutions to the problem with sincerity and commitment, and to resolve the problem once and for all. We are not trying to take away their land,” he said.
Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi, Assistant Minister of Native Laws and Customs Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Pengguang Manggil, Assistant Minister for Community WellBeing Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, symposium chairman Datuk Adexander Nanta Linggi who is Kapit MP, Sarawak’s science research adviser Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Bintulu Resident Jack Aman Luat, Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, and Samalaju assemblyman Majang Renggi were among those present at the dinner.