By Shikin Louis
ASAJAYA, July 19: The new Kampung Tambirat Rural Library aims to pull children and youths away from excessive gadget use and back towards reading.
Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the library, located in the heart of Kampung Tambirat, would serve as an important platform to cultivate a love for reading and knowledge among young people in Asajaya.
He said in today’s digital age, children were increasingly occupied with mobile phones and other gadgets, making it necessary to create spaces that encouraged learning through books.
“Children who develop an interest in reading from a young age can go far.
“This is where the seeds of knowledge and learning begin to grow,” he said after officiating the new Kampung Tambirat Rural Library in Kampung Tambirat Tengah Tradisi today.
Abdul Karim, who is also Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts as well as Asajaya assemblyman, further said the initiative by Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) was timely, especially as Kampung Tambirat is the largest village in the constituency.
He said Asajaya had recorded encouraging progress in education, with more students from the area now pursuing higher education compared to previous years.
“SMK Asajaya alone saw more than 100 students entering public universities this year. This is something we are proud of because it shows the awareness among parents and children on the importance of education is growing,” he said.
He stressed that building educational success required long-term efforts and could not be achieved overnight, adding that libraries played an important role in shaping children’s interest in learning from an early age.
Meanwhile, MPKS chairman Abang Ismawi Abang Ali said the Kampung Tambirat Rural Library was one of five rural libraries upgraded by the council.
He said each library received an allocation of about RM130,000, with the total cost for upgrading all five libraries amounting to more than RM500,000.
Abdul Karim added that MPKS and relevant agencies would continue supporting educational and community programmes in Asajaya, including activities involving schools and youths, to encourage a healthier and more productive environment for children. — DayakDaily
