Special committee to improve economy mulled

KANOWIT: Ngemah assemblyman Anyi Jana has announced plans to establish a special committee aimed at planning programmes to improve the community’s economy within his constituency.

“I will provide an allocation from the Minor Rural Project (MRP). For example, I will provide an allocation of RM100,000. From this fund, we may involve 20 entrepreneurs in various types of businesses.

Anyi delivers his speech.

“This committee will monitor them to ensure that every invested fund (from the programme) has a return,” he said in his speech at the Sugu Tinggi (Iban headgear) Handicraft Workshop at Kanowit District Council Public Library here yesterday (Jan 26).

Anyi said that through the committee, they aimed to produce more entrepreneurs within the constituency in line with his focus as a people’s representative to improve infrastructure, the economy, education, and youth in Ngemah.

Meanwhile, on the three-day workshop organised by Mitz Agency and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, Anyi said that many benefits can be obtained from such a programme.

“In terms of creative arts, this is where we can showcase our talents, learning how to create high-quality products that attract the interest of others to use these products.

“From an economic perspective, as participants in this course, you all may have the goal of possibly opening a shop or selling online as every programme organised must yield returns,” he added.

Sugu tinggi (silver headgear) are seen among handicraft displayed at the programme.

He stressed that starting a business is not easy as it requires funds, equipment, and a market, however, if they have determination, they will surely succeed.

Meanwhile, Roselind Ngali from Mitz Agency said that the workshop has been conducted in Balai Ringgin, followed by sessions in Kanowit, Sri Aman, and Tatau.

Roselind, who started teaching how to make the ‘sugu tinggi’ since 2017, hopes that with the workshop, more people will become skilled in producing the Iban traditional headgear so that it can preserved for future generations.

“It is hoped that participants can produce their own ‘sugu tinggi’, perhaps starting with making them for their own families and also for sale,” she said.