By Karen Bong
BETONG, June 5: The Sarawak government will consider and discuss the establishment of an international school in Betong Division, including identifying a strategic location for the school.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg emphasised that he will not hesitate when it comes to talent development, noting that the international school will cater to children from Sri Aman to Sarikei.
“This means Betong will become international. The international school, using Cambridge curriculum, aims to nurture Anak Sarawak with a competitive edge globally, especially in new fields such as compound semiconductor and hydrogen. Students will have to sit for an entrance exam to assess their eligibility,” he said when officiating at the ‘Ngabang Gawai Dayak’ event for Betong Division at Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan Sports Hall today.
This response came after Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas requested for an international school in Betong Division to fill the education gap for students from Sri Aman to Sarikei, ensuring that children there have access to international standard education, alongside those in Kuching, Sibu, Miri, and Bintulu.
Regarding Uggah’s request for a Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (Centexs) branch in Betong, Abang Johari approved the proposal.
“There is no problem, as people in Betong Division can adopt the technology developed by Centexs, including for agriculture, especially paddy plantation, and fashion design. We can nurture more talented people through the centre,” he added.
Noting a new five-kilometre road project to link Sri Aman to Betong through Pan Borneo Highway, Abang Johari also disclosed that a housing and commercial area project will be developed along the route.
“As it is near to Sebauh where a small airport is to be built, it will facilitate tourism at Batang Ai,” he said.
Additionally, Abang Johari approved RM5 million for upgrading a mosque in Betong to accommodate 1,000 people, as the current mosque is too small.
He also noted that the Bintulu Division Development Agency (BDDA) has utilised its RM1.5 billion funding to implement various projects in Betong, with the bulk going towards infrastructure development with 67 projects costing RM552 million.
Other projects include social and women development (RM384 million for 45 projects), agriculture and food industry (RM255 million for 42 projects), business and entrepreneurs (RM130 million for 32 projects), tourism and environment (RM98 million for 13 projects) and utility and communication (RM34 million for nine projects).
“Rest assured that there are other development plans to elevate Betong Division. What’s important is to safeguard our unity and harmony to ensure success not only in Betong but Sarawak as a whole as we work towards positioning the region as an economic hub in Southeast Asia,” he said.
Abang Johari’s wife Puan Sri Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, Uggah, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport Development Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu, and former Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang were among the distinguished guests present. — DayakDaily
