By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, April 17: Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, has stressed the importance of using simple and accessible language in communicating government policies, especially when targeting rural communities.
Speaking at Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri event held at Imperial Hotel earlier tonight, Awang Tengah praised the non-governmental organisation (NGO) for successfully translating complex policy frameworks into narratives that ordinary Sarawakians can understand and connect with.
“Sometimes, the language and jargon used by professionals and academics—even we ourselves don’t fully understand it.
“So how can we expect the villagers, the people in longhouses, those in rural areas—especially our elderly—to understand?
“The younger generation who are in university might be okay, but what about the rest?” he questioned.
Awang Tengah, who is also Sarawak Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development (MUDeNR), emphasised that for development efforts to truly benefit the people, communication must be clear, relatable, and, if possible, delivered in local languages or dialects.
“If we can communicate in local languages, in the dialects of the various ethnic groups, it’s even better. This is what we must convey,” he added.
He further recounted a past instance when the federal government attempted to shut down regional radio broadcasts in Sarawak, which included programming in multiple indigenous languages.
“I told the late Tok Mat (Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat, the then Information Minister) that these are the mediums we use to convey information. People feel proud, and they understand better when it’s in their own languages.
“No matter how good our policies are, if the people cannot understand them, they will not benefit. That is the reality we need to acknowledge,” he concluded.
Also present were Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Information, Corporate Affairs and UKAS) Datuk Abdullah Saidol; AZAM Sarawak chairman Datuk William Patrick Nyigor; Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Operations) and AZAM Sarawak’s Strategic Partnership Committee chairman, Datu Hii Chang Kee; and AZAM Sarawak chief executive officer Ali Suhaili. – DayakDaily
