SRI AMAN, March 29: Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan has called on more organisations to emulate Yayasan Dakwah Islam Malaysia (Yadim) and Yayasan Amal Malaysia in bringing water to areas where the water source is an issue.
Yadim, in collaboration with Yayasan Amal Malaysia, had successfully implemented a tube well project at Kampung Gayau (Islam) near Pantu, some 60km from Sri Aman, recently.
After 10 tries at different spots, they managed to uncover a water source some 35 feet underneath the earth.
Snowdan, who officiated at the handing-over ceremony of the Water for Life 1.0 project at the village on March 26, said it was done at a reasonable cost of RM15,000.
“It (tube well) will be able to supply continuous and ready supply of clean, natural water (almost equivalent to mineral water) to more than 250 people in the area,” he said and urged the people to safeguard the goodwill and harmonious community living in their longhouse.
In commending the project initiators for a job well done, Snowdan said the Iban community, though living far in the interior, could adapt to modern living well.
“The fact that this project materialised today is a testimony to their ever readiness to cooperate and complement the government’s agenda to uplift the standard of living of the rural people,” he said in a statement today.
He noted that the people were living in harmony and were respectful of each other’s religion, their way of life and cultural practices.
“I urge that everyone would, by all means, try to safeguard this harmony,” he advised.
At the function, Snowdan announced minor rural project (MRP) grants totalling RM10,000 to the JKKK and Biro Wanita of the village. Yadim, on the other hand, distributed food items to the villagers.
Meanwhile, Kampung Gayau (Islam)’s `ketua kaum’ Abdul Taib Abdullah said although his people had embraced Islam, they still maintain their cultures and Iban way of life as farmers.
Kampung Gayau (Islam) is a 14-door Iban longhouse. Its residents embraced Islam some 10 years ago.
Present at the function were Yadim Sarawak director Awang Dulhadi Awang Mat and his officer Salleh Farmin. — DayakDaily
