Mawan (10th right) and Belayong (ninth right) in a group photo with branch executives and event organising committee members during the dinner last night.
KUCHING: Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom has urged union branches to embrace change by adding value to their social and community outreach programmes.
According to him, SDNU branches should now look beyond social realm to include economic activities as their modern objectives.
Mawan, who is Pakan assemblyman, said the Dayak community just has to move on using SDNU as a platform.
He said SDNU has proven itself to be a uniting factor among members who came from various background of politics which is fractious in nature.
“SDNU is just like a church. You do not ask each other which party you are from in church. And the same applies to SDNU. But now use your big number in SDNU and respective branches as weightage and leverage for economic pursuits,” said Mawan when officiating at the launch of SDNU Bandar Riyal branch at a community hall in Kota Padawan here last night.
He then reminded members to be supportive of the government of the day as such institution is the best platform for the union to get some form of assistance for businesses.
These assistance include licenses and job/work contracts, he said.
He said the union and its branches can start by holding useful, helpful and motivational symposiums and public talks on economy.
“Create an economic entity and joint venture with others to undertake suitable businesses. Use members to manage them. Members can be shareholders to sit in the board of companies. Do not close yourselves from economic aspect.”
Meanwhile, in commending the commitment of SDNU Bandar Riyal branch, Mawan said the branch headed by civil servant Stanley Belayong Pok could take off with good initiatives for members and become a role model for other SDNU branches.
He pledged RM10,000 in government grant to the branch to finance their future activities.