Gotong-royong should be cultivated — Pairin
TAMBUNAN:DeputyChiefMinister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan urged the public to recall the importance of gotong-royong in order for it to be re-established as part of the state’s livelihood or customs.
Through gotong-royong activities, the spirit of helping the community and collaborating in cleaning playgrounds, drainage, and houses of worship would create a genuine sense of belonging, he said when launching the Gotong Royong National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) My Beautiful Neighborhood (MyBN) program for Keningau parliamentary constituency at Pisompuruan Square here yesterday.
“Even as we move towards TN50, this practice should be cultivated so that future generations will make it part of their way of life,” said Pairin, who is also the Infrastructure Development Minister.
Pairin said the launch of My Beautiful Neighbourhood (MyBN) gotong royong program was symbolic of the mutual support among the communities around the country.
“NBOS is a government’s effort to improve the government’s delivery system to the people through cooperation between ministries, federal and state departments, agencies, local authorities as well as private parties,” he said.
Pairin, who is also Keningau member of parliament, added the gotong royong activity implemented in collaboration with the various government agencies at the federal and state levels as well as local residents coincided with the NBOS concept of low cost, high impact and rapid execution planning and implementation.
He said the NBOS My Beautiful Neighborhood gotong royong program which was held yesterday, was one of the NBOS programs aimed at transforming the neighbourhood environment into a beautiful surrounding, creating a safe, clean and beautiful neighbourhood.
He said the program involved 98 parliamentary constituencies nationwide with an allocation of RM3 million and implemented simultaneously throughout the country, yesterday.
“The program is also broadcast live by RTM in three states through the ‘Selamat Pagi Malaysia’ slot at Tambun Perak, Sandakan, Sabah and Sarikei, Sarawak,” he said.
In Tandek, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said communal work, or commonly called gotong-royong, is the best strategy to promote cooperation among the people.
He explained the activity also instills the spirit of teamwork and joint ownership of public goods and basic infrastructure which need proper maintenance.
Speaking at the launch of the national level NBOS My Beautiful Neighbourhood (MyBN) GotongRoyong 2017 programme yesterday, he noted that such activity is a good strategy for resource sharing and solving the rakyat’s problems, especially at the grassroot level.
“Gotong-royong is proven to be an effective approach to instill the spirit of cooperation and joint ownership of public amenities that need to be managed sustainably, such as the environment, rivers, forests and air.
“Such activity also helps to inculcate good habits, such as caring for the environment and respect for neighbours which are crucial to develop, especially among young people,” he said.
Maximus added that the programme also helped to enhance national unity and preserve prosperity and peace.