Drive community growth, Sagah tells Bidayuh graduates

KUCHING: The Bidayuh community must keep abreast with other communities by being robust in thinking, knowledgeable, progressive and competitive.

In stating this, Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah said everyone including Bidayuh graduates has an important role to play in the community and country’s development.

“You (graduates) are seen as leaders because of your knowledge, skills, and supposedly superior traits, character and leadership qualities,” he said.

He was officiating at the Bidayuh Graduates’ Forum: Thriving Amid AI Disruption held at the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) Multipurpose Hall today (Nov 25).

The one-day forum was organised by DBNA and Sarawak Bidayuh Graduates Association (BDA).

Sagah said graduates can make a significant impact on the community by using their knowledge, skills, and experience to help develop a competitive mindset that fosters growth and prosperity in an ever-changing global landscape.

“So, you can bring valuable skills and perspectives to our community, and can play important roles in driving positive change and growth,” he said.

On the roles of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as DBNA and BGA, he said they must think outside the box, be resilient, dedicated, progressive and proactive to ensure every community programme and service is carried out with quality.

“The implementation of all educational development agendas needs to be blended with a value proposition so that the transformation of the lives of youths and our society can embrace the philosophy of the values of togetherness, inclusion and gratitude within the framework of the ‘Malaysian Family’ as a whole.

“The impact, the feel-good factor towards the quality of services and education contributes towards the well-being of people’s lives,” he said.

Therefore, he hoped that DBNA and BGA would always play an active supporting and complementary role in addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges in a community.

“These NGOs are critical in bringing people together, providing services and support, and advocating for policy changes that benefit the community,” he said.

On the forum, he said it is crucial that attendees, especially experts and graduates, come together to share their perspectives, to learn from each other, and to explore new ways of addressing the challenges we face in the digital era.

“We are living in a world that is constantly changing. Technological advancement, global economic shift, and geopolitical developments are reshaping the world we live in.

“At the same time, we are facing complex and interconnected challenges, from climate change to social inequality to geopolitical tension,” he said.

He added that the forum signifies a collective commitment by DBNA and BGA to equip Bidayuh graduates with the knowledge, skills, and insights required to thrive in this dynamic era.