‘Practise saving culture for education’
KUCHING: The Dayaks are advised to make it a culture to save part of their income for their children’s education in the future.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu, said the Dayak community should emulate the Chinese, which have the saving culture to prepare for the future education of their children.
“I would like to stress here that the Bidayuhs, and the Dayaks as a whole, must learn to save part of their income to prepare for the educational needs of their children in the future. If we look at the Chinese, they start to save money even before their children are born.
“That is why they are able to send their children either to local or overseas higher learning institutions without any financial assistance from the government,” Entulu said when officiating at Persatuan Bidayuh Bra’ang Padawan ( PBBP) pre- Gawai and third anniversary dinner at Kota Padawan Community hall on Sunday.
Entulu said the Dayaks should make education their priority and try to save so as to not depend solely on financial assistance from the government to send their children to higher learning institutions. He was also happy to note the strong unity among the Bidayuhs, which has resulted in them progressing quite well and also enjoying physical development in their areas.
He said the Bidayuhs are now very mobile and no longer confined to living in Kuching Division, but are also found in other divisions and other states in the country.
Despite the success, he reminded the community not to rest on their laurels, but to continue improving themselves and the community as a whole.
Entulu later announced minor rural project ( MRP) fund of RM30,000 to the association.
PBBP president Clif Mengud, earlier, said the formation of the association, which comprises seven villages, was meant to preserve their culture and to further unite the clan.
He added the association also strongly emphasises on education and is working closely with Bidayuh Graduates Association ( BGA) on the matter.
Clif was happy to note the cooperation among the members that would make them to become more successful.
A political secretary to chief minister Edward Kurik and deputy Kuching Resident Tuah Suni were also present.