Champion education in longhouses, educated Ibans urged
SIBU (June 9): Successful and educated members of the Iban community must take the lead in uplifting education standards in their longhouse communities, said Anyi Jana.
The Ngemah assemblyman said their achievements should serve as a source of inspiration, particularly to rural students who often face greater educational challenges.
He emphasised that those who have succeeded academically should not forget their roots but to give back to the society.
'Parents also play an important role in shaping their children's future,' Anyi said in his speech at a meet-the-people gathering at Rumah Gani Mahi in Kabah, Kanowit on Saturday.
He further highlighted that various educational aid schemes have been made available by the state government to assist Sarawak students, particularly those in rural areas.
Adding a personal touch, Anyi said he had launched his own initiative to offer incentives to students who perform well in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations.
'This is meant to encourage our children to aim higher and do well in public examinations,' he said.
He said students pursuing higher education, including diplomas and degrees, are also being supported through the initiative.
Among those present at the event were Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Ngemah deputy chairman Ramba Resang and PRS Ngemah Youth chief Councillor Stenny Willis. anyi jana education Iban community lead
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
3 days ago
- Barnama
PMM Convocation: Top Graduate Fulfils Dream Of Sharing Stage With Parents
JASIN, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- For G. Kishendran, the convocation of Merlimau Polytechnic, Melaka (PMM) was not only a celebration of academic excellence but also the proud moment his wish to be on stage with his parents came true after he scored a perfect 4.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average for six straight semesters. The 23-year-old Diploma in Accountancy graduate was named the recipient of the Director's Award and the Academic and Co-Curricular Excellence Award at the convocation ceremony today, in recognition of his hard work and discipline over three years at PMM. Although he obtained 8As in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, his dream was left unfulfilled for five years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a setback that became the driving force for the son of a lorry driver and food caterer to work harder during his studies. 'I'm really happy and thankful. This achievement wouldn't have been possible without my parents' prayers and sacrifices. They worked hard to support the family and give us a proper education. 'I used to feel down and nearly gave up, but the support of my parents, lecturers and friends gave me the strength to keep going, and I dedicate this success to all of them,' he told reporters here today. Earlier, Kishendran received the award from Polytechnic and Community College Education Department director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Zahari Ismail at the 23rd PMM Convocation Ceremony. The third of six siblings from Pantai Dalam, Kuala Lumpur, said he had been keenly interested in accounting since Form Four. Kishendran said he would wake up as early as 4 am every day to work on assignments, ensuring he managed his time wisely to actively participate in various polytechnic programmes while achieving excellent results academically and in co-curricular activities. He also earned an overall Merit KITA score of 88.75 per cent, the comprehensive assessment system of Malaysian polytechnics that evaluates academics, leadership, co-curricular activities, and student personality.
Borneo Post
09-08-2025
- Borneo Post
From curiosity to commitment
Chen conducts a batik class at the Miri Visitors Information Centre. MIRIAN Mandy Chen is never bothered whenever she is being asked: 'Do you have Orang Ulu, or other Sarawakian native blood, in you?' Many may see this as being offensive – or for some, downright harassment – but for the 35-year-old social entrepreneur, she simply understands the reason behind it. 'I'm obviously Chinese, and moreover, this question is asked mostly by the people from 'Semenanjung' (Peninsular Malaysia). 'Being a Chinese championing Sarawak's traditional crafts may seem a bit peculiar to them, so I understand the reason behind them asking more about my ethnic background than what I am showcasing. 'It's alright – I'm already so used to it,' says the co-founder of Landik – a social enterprise set up by her and her friends, Wong Lee King and Jasmine Puyang, in Kuching in August 2023. It is a social enterprise that sets out to empower local senior crafts artisans. Chen seen at the Asean Dialogue, held in Kuala Lumpur a few months ago. Education and career Diversity has been around Chen ever since she can remember. 'I attended SMK Taman Tunku in Miri, and later, took a Bachelor's Degree in Events and Tourism Management programme at the UCSI University in Kuching. 'I thrived in the multi-racial environment at the campus,' she recalls. Today, Chen works closely with the elderly community in Miri in efforts to create pathways for inter-generational learning and sustainable livelihoods. Talking about the social enterprise, Chen says while it is not directly connected to her field of study, it allows her to use her skills to bring community-driven ideas to life. In this respect, she thoroughly enjoys interacting with people of all ages, and is ever inspired to help the young people become more creative so that they can conserve their culture. 'Instead of taking a conventional job path, I chose to work with our local communities and crafts. 'I realised that I was never just looking for a job – I wanted to create work that felt like service. 'My heart kept going back to the stories of our culture and heritage.' Much to offer For Chen, what began as curiosity gradually evolved into a commitment. Being totally focused on social enterprise, Chen acknowledges that the senior citizens have so much to offer, but they often lack the platform to share their skills or make them relevant in this modern era. Talking about Landik, which means 'talented' or 'skilful' in Iban, she says it has made her become more aware of the richness of Sarawak's cultural heritage, especially the traditional crafts that are slowly fading from everyday use. In this respect, she said Landik represents the opportunity of not just preserving these traditional art, but also making them more visible, more relevant, and more economically-empowering for the artisans behind them. 'Landik was set up not because we had all the answers, but because we had a deep respect for what was being forgotten. 'We wanted to create something that would honour our elders, bridge the generations, and give our culture a way to live on. 'Landik serves as a platform to celebrate and share the beauty of Sarawak's traditional crafts – made by the people, for the people, and for more youths to take on crafts-making as a career. 'We aim to transform traditional crafts and the knowledge into a sustainable source of livelihood, allowing artisans to continue contributing to their communities while keeping the legacy alive.' At present, Chen conducts her bi-weekly crafts workshop at MYY Mall in Lutong, which involves senior artisans and local youths. 'Projects, opportunities, dreams' Landik's latest project is the 'ROOTS' programme under the support of Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Yayasan Hasanah, and the Ministry of Finance (MoF). Open to youths and those from the older generation, the programme encourages inter-generational learning of traditional craft skills and techniques, but at the same time, it also promotes creation of innovative, everyday products. The programme, which kicked off in July this year, runs until the year-end. Chen remarks: 'I am so happy that Landik gets the opportunity to showcase our team's work in other parts of Malaysia, including Penang, Sabah and Labuan. 'We have hosted workshops for international participants, including those from Brunei. 'This further promotes our community's work, in the hope that it could be an inspiration to the communities in other parts of the world that are experiencing the similar issues – rising ageing population, and lack of youth participation in traditional crafts-making.' Chen (front, third left) in a group photo with some young visitors from Brunei. The ROOTS project was set up following Landik's recognition as a recipient of the 2025 Hasanah Social Enterprise Fund (HSEF) from Yayasan Hasanah and the MoF, under the support of SDEC via the 'Sehabat Catalyst Programme'. Mandy has also been invited to speak at various motivational sessions such as the 'Technology, Entertainment, Design (TEDx) Jalan Padungan and Borneo Craft Global 2025. 'These are the platforms that we use to share with the participants the work that we have been doing at Landik, and how other people can come in to play a role in heritage preservation. 'We now have a growing elderly population, so now is truly the time for all of us to come together and play our roles to address this matter collectively. 'That's why I hope to build a full ecosystem around Landik, where the traditional crafts become a channel not only for income-generation, but also for storytelling and youth engagement.' Mandy's assistant at the Landik shop in Lutong, Saribi Longi – a 64-year-old a Bisaya from Limbang – teaches workshop participants embroidery techniques. Chen also expresses her dream of Sarawak having more artisans hubs. 'Maybe it could be part training centre, part cultural space, and part retail shop – but most importantly, a place that belongs to the people. 'I hope by having more spaces like this, which will serve as a living bridge between the elders and the youths, where skills are being passed down, new ideas being welcomed, and culture being celebrated through hands-on experience.' Mandy points out that the goal is to create sustainable models that would allow artisans to thrive – economically, socially, and with dignity. 'It's not just about making crafts. It's about creating a future where our elders are valued, our culture is living, and our young people are feeling proud to carry it forward. Photo shows the Landik shop in Lutong. Chen personally believes that such innovation is very much needed 'in planting and nurturing the seeds so as to keep the traditional crafts alive'. In this regard, she hopes that other like-minded organisations would continue sharing with one another whatever knowledge that they have gained. 'Another wish is for all the senior artisans to document the traditional crafts in various formats – they can be in publications, videos or digital files. 'I also hope that more innovations would be incorporated into our traditional crafts to ensure that it would remain relevant in today's world – just like how many companies incorporate indigenous motifs in their designs, or fully use the relevant technology in promoting crafts,' she points out. Chen says Landik has made her become more aware of the richness of Sarawak's cultural heritage, especially the traditional crafts that are slowly fading from everyday use. arts crafts Mandy Chen Sarawak social entrepreneur
Borneo Post
09-08-2025
- Borneo Post
IIUM students explore sape heritage at Sibu Dayak Sape Club
(Seated, from second left) Sharifah, Ismail and Anthony pose for a group photo with KSDS members and IIUM students during the delegation's visit to the KSDS Centre. SIBU (Aug 9): A total of 27 students from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Kuala Lumpur visited the Sibu Dayak Sape Club (KSDS) Centre at Jalan Kampung Datu here on Thursday. The students, who are majoring in Applied Arts and Design, were accompanied by two lecturers, Assistant Professor Dr Sharifah Tahirah Syed Kamarulzaman and Professional Technologist (Interior Designer) Ismail Jasmani. According to Sharifah, the visit was part of the Kupuo' Baleh Menyulam Cerita Bumi Kenyalang tour series, aimed at conducting research and study for the students' academic subjects. 'We are in Sibu for two days to carry out research on the 'sape' through KSDS. The sape is one of the topics in our course, which involves art and design. 'We truly appreciate the cooperation given by KSDS in making this tour a success,' said Sharifah, who led the delegation. She added that besides visiting the KSDS Centre, the group also toured the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) campus, a longhouse in Bawang Assan, and several other locations around Sibu. After their stop in Sibu, the group will continue their tour to Miri before returning to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow (Aug 10). Welcoming the group, KSDS chairman Anthony Abong noted that IIUM was the first delegation to visit their centre. 'KSDS is always ready to cooperate with any party interested in learning about the sape — not only how to play it, but also its history,' he said. Anthony added that the KSDS Centre preserves various records on the sape, including written documents, photographs, and actual instruments, all of which are suitable for research and study. During the visit, the IIUM delegation attended a talk on the history of the sape, observed a sape-making demonstration, explored a sape exhibition, and had the opportunity to try playing the instrument. They also participated in a session with the traditional Iban percussion instrument known as the 'Betaboh'. IIUM International Islamic University Malaysia lead Sibu Dayak Sape Club
