TSI hopes to hold conferences on human rights, education

KUCHING: The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI) is hoping to conduct international conferences on human rights and education once the Covid-19 pandemic has been contained.

In a statement yesterday, it said that it also hoped to hold extensive discussions, forums and seminars on Sarawak’s diverse cultural identities that might be ‘rediscovered’ through research and participation from artists, musicians, choreographers, designers,folklorists,mythologists and many other cultural experts.

“This would be a small investment that could eventually turn into big returns for Sarawak in term of national unity as TSI tries to develop a Sarawak Cultural Identity that could transform into Sarawak tourism products,” it stated.

TSI is currently running a leadership programme with 36 prominent lecturers on current affairs covering education, economics, integrity, principles of government, gender equality, Sarawak identity amongst other topics. About 200 aspiring leaders have registered for the programme. It recently held its first annual general meeting (AGM) via Zoom to discuss activities of the past year and the plans for next year.

“Despite the pandemic, TSI was able to collaborate with the Lions Club Kuching North in adopting three secondary students and providing financial bursaries, as well as (collaborating with) Kharma Kagyu Dharma Society and Society for Kuching Urban Poor by providing towels and blankets to flood-stricken residents of Kampung Kudei, Kampung Sungai Apong, Poh Kwong Park and Song Kheng Hai areas,” it said.

In addition, TSI engaged a licensed surveyor to carry out pegs verification survey along the perimeter of a cemetery land occupied by squatters at Chawan Road, and hoped that their plight would be resolved by the relevant authorities. On Education, TSI led by chairman Datuk John Tenewi paid a visit to Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Amar Michael Manyin to better understand the state’s education policy and expressed its full support for the building of five government international schools using the Cambridge syllabus and English as the medium of instruction.