Sagah: Education key to Bidayuh community’s role in nation-building

KUCHING (April 7): The Bidayuh community has been urged to “arm themselves” with education, as it remains at the forefront of nation-building and development.

Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn stressed that knowledge and skills are essential for meaningful contributions to the state and the nation.

“Education is where we must have the edge, that is the only field where we can really compete. If you say you want to do business, how many of us are truly successful in it?

“But in education, there are many success stories. You can see that all of you are here tonight because of education,” he said during a dinner held in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) Bidayuh Council of Elders (BCOE) at restaurant here on Monday.

Sagah added that the Bidayuh community must also adopt an innovative mindset to help drive Sarawak’s new economy, citing areas such as green energy as examples.

“Our economic policies have changed. We are now moving towards green initiatives. In the past, we would spend all day under the sun playing football, and sunlight was considered good for us. But now, doctors warn us about the dangers of excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

“As such, we are paying greater attention to our environment and climate change, exploring ways to create our own ‘umbrella’—by capturing carbon and converting it into useful resources, including energy,” he explained.

Building on this, he urged the Bidayuh community to place greater emphasis on education in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), as it is crucial for future development.

He also highlighted the importance of modernising agriculture through the adoption of new technologies, particularly in developing a new generation of farmers.

“This is the kind of agriculture we want to develop in Sarawak. We aim to become a ‘major rice bowl’ (the staple food supplier and producer) —not just for Malaysia, but, if possible, for the Asean region,” he said.

Also present were adviser in the Sarawak Premier’s Office (Education) Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong; Deputy Minister of Transport (Riverine and Marine) Datuk Henry Harry Jinep; Deputy Minister of Transport (Aviation and Road) Datuk Dr Jerip Susil; Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin; DBNA BCOE chairman Temenggong Henry Bujang Sendan and other distinguished guests from the Bidayuh community.