By Nancy Nais
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14: Oohh haa! The Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak 2022 celebration will be back in full swing after a two-year hiatus.
Some 6,000 Sarawakians are expected to attend the one-day event which will be held tomorrow (Oct 15) at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur.
The event will kick off at 9am with 28 exhibitions booths covering various topics to engage Sarawakian youths in state government policies, a dialogue session and lastly dinner reception.
Organised by Sarawak Volunteers Association (Sarawak Volunteers) with the support of the Sarawak Government, organising chairman Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof said this time, the exhibition will focus on Sarawak’s development programme, particularly the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).
“We hope hope to bring Sarawakian students who are in Peninsular Malaysia into the State government policy decisions through their suggestions and views. This can help us in drafting our policy for the State.
“We also want these students to know the State government’s plans and this is a learning process so can prepare themselves to meet the needs of Sarawak after they graduate, such as fulfill any space and opportunities created in PCDS 2030,” Fadillah told reporters after inspecting the event venue today.
Fadillah, who is also the federal Senior Minister of Public Works added that the event will also showcase various programmes and job opportunities from public services and the private sector.
Sarawakians who are here for the event can see for themselves the opportunities that are available.
“This is an opportunity for our students, especially those in the Peninsular Malaysia to ask the panelists, find out more in details and interact with government officials, non-government organisations and youth leaders that we brought with us to this event.
“In the afternoon, there will be a town hall session with our Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. This is an opportunity for the students to interact directly and express any problems or suggestions to the highest level of the Sarawak government,” he said.
Giving an example from the previous Lan Berambeh townhall session with Abang Johari, Fadillah said students voiced their frustration on the issue of expensive flight tickets, which they could not afford and hence could not go back to Sarawak, especially during the festive season.
After listening to their grievances, Abang Johari immediately came up with an initiative called ‘Graduan Pulang Sarawak’ (iGPS) where Sarawakian students studying in Peninsular Malaysia would each receive a RM600 flight subsidy so that they could return home during the festivals or holidays.
“These are the type of interactions we want, where our Premier interacts with students, immediately thinks of a solution and approve it straight away on the spot,” Fadillah said.— DayakDaily
