Make associations become platforms to develop community – rep
MIRI: Community associations can become effective platforms to fight for the interests of a group of people particularly among the ethnic communities.
Hence, Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Ngumbang wants especially the rural community to use associations as a platform for them to boost development within the community.
“An association is not only to keep the group together but should also serve an effective platform for the members to promote and preserve their culture.
“Who else if not us to look after the welfare and interest of our community,” he stated when officiating at Sarawak Bisaya Association Miri branch’s dinner at a hotel here yesterday.
Commenting on the Bisaya community, Paulus said he was happy to note that the community has assimilated very well with other communities in the state.
“Migrating to other places is not a culture to the Bisaya community as we always confine ourselves in Limbang.
“However, development and education has forced us to migrate. That’s why you can find Bisaya all over the state as well as in Peninsular Malaysia.”
Like the other ethnic communities, he said the mixed marriages by the people in Sarawak has posed a strong challenge for the couple to choose which culture that they have to go for.
To him, such mixed marriage could foster better understanding among the people from different races, ethnic, religion and cultures.
He feared that without continued efforts to preserve their culture, the Bisaya community could one day lose their identity particularly among the new generation due to mixed marriages.
Thus, it is important for ethnic based associations to play effective role in preserving and promoting their cultures and traditions.
Meanwhile, chairman of Sarawak Bisaya Association Miri branch Antonio Kahti Galis thanked the association’s committee members for giving their total support to events organised by the association.