KUCHING, July 28: Social activist Sidi Munan, who has been elected the new The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI) chairman, hopes the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government and ministers will remain open to meet with its leaders to have good discussions on building a better Sarawak.
Sidi replaced founding chairman Datuk John Tenewi, who has been appointed as TSI advisor.
Apart from Sidi, the post of deputy chairman went to former Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) lecturer Prof Dr Hamsawi Sani, while businessman Goh Leng Yeu retained his secretary post.
Others who retained their posts included treasurer Datu Mohidden Ishak, who is a former Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) general manager, committee members; lawyer Ratanah Devi Yusof Perumal, Margaret Philip Bedus, former Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS) chairperson and veterinarian Dr Paul Tulik Peter Raig.
The new committee, to serve from 2022-2024, also saw two new members in Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak administrative officer (Operations) Dr Ipoi Datan and a Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) lecturer Dr Nur Aida Kipli.
“TSI hopes to organise more activities in the near future in line with the tagline ‘Dare to Dream for a Better Sarawak’.
“It is also hoped that the GPS government will allocate funding for the association to help organise activities for the benefits of Sarawakians, especially the younger generation to inculcate positive outlook for a better future,” he said in a statement today.
In his speech at TSI annual general meeting (AGM) on July 23, Sidi also mentioned that TSI is mulling on setting up a service cum resource centre to aid development of promising individuals who participated in its Aspiring Leaders programme.
The centre, he said, would provide reading and educational materials, as well as facilities to aid the personal development of its future leaders.
“It is envisioned that the centre will be equipped with adequate information on Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole, to help inculcate better understanding among these individuals on the history and progress of the country in their bid towards nation building.
“The centre could play a key role in the civil society’s pursuit of its five main objectives, with a global perspective, that focused on issues faced by Sarawakians,” he added.
The Sarawak-based non-governmental organisation aimed to promote and help Sarawakians attain a high level and standard of education, create a peaceful and harmonious living environment, cultivate good values and integrity, create a unique Sarawak identity based on Sarawak’s cultural diversities, and create a healthy economy.
Sidi advised TSI aspiring leaders to be well-versed in various fields, such as the art of communications (public speaking and debate), self-enrichment through reading and understanding the constitutional institutions (Legislature, Executive, Judiciary), understanding of the customs and norms of the various ethnic groups in Sarawak, etiquette and manners, power-dressing and international diplomacy among others.
“This is a tall order, a high standard of behaviour required of the aspiring leaders of Sarawak. Idealistic, but it’s worth trying rather than not trying to achieve. We hope that the Aspiring Leaders will rise up to become good future leaders of Sarawak to take us to be on par with other advanced countries.
“That’s what the TSI tagline ‘Dare to dream of a better Sarawak’ is all about,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily
