Alumni urged to resolve problems of rural Dayak students

KUCHING: A Dayak alumni association has been urged to help resolve the problems faced by rural Dayak students.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas told the University Malaya Dayak Alumni Association (PADUM) during its 10th anniversary celebration last night (Nov 12)  that he had come across cases of such students who still could not read, write or calculate even after five or six years of primary education.

He noted that slow learners would face great challenges in an ever evolving and increasingly competitive world.

“I hope PADUM can help to address these problems by organising regular rural educational motivation programmes.

“All parents want their children to do very well in their studies and acquire knowledge and skills as professionals, agropreneurs and businessmen,” he said in his speech.

Uggah, who is also the association’s patron, said another issue is the reluctance of parents in allowing their children to stay as borders.

“As borders, they will have a very conducive study environment, with rules to  follow and they will be well taken care of.

“They will not face many distractions like using their handphones most of the time or even become involved in social problems like drug taking and alcoholism,” he said, adding that the association organise seminars and workshops for Dayaks to venture into the business world.

“PADUM could do this as it had among its members  doctors, lawyers, engineers, businessmen and businesswomen, and senior civil servants among others. You have a very good mix and this is a great image for PADUM.

“We must ensure our community will seize whatever opportunity available, especially with the creation of the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

“Some of us have done very well in the oil palm cultivation and this goes to show that we are just as capable as the others,” he said.

At the function, Uggah announced a grant of RM50,000 to the association to help it to give incentives to Dayak students in Universiti Malaya and another RM100,000 for it to organise its development and social programmes.

Among those present were Uggah’s wife Datuk Doreen Mayang, PADUM president Cooplay Nyipa Aji, Senator Rita Insol, dinner organising chairperson Marie Joanna Buma, and Kuching Division Dayak paramount chief Temenggong Nelson Kloni.