MP hopes outreach programme will extend to rural areas
MIRI: The Knowledge Outreach Intervention Programme implemented by Pustaka Negeri Sarawak has made a huge impact on the knowledge of its participants from various rural areas in Miri Division.
Member of Parliament for Sibuti Ahmad Lai Bujang hoped Pustaka Negeri Sarawak would continue with such efforts by extending similar programmes to other rural areas in the state.
“Like the urban folk, people living in the rural areas also want the government to give them equal attention on basic needs such as health, education, welfare and many others,” he said when closing the Knowledge Outreach Intervention Programme at Pustaka Miri on Saturday.
Ahmad Lai’s text of speech was read out by Pustaka Negeri Sarawak’s acting chief executive officer ( CEO) Arpah Adenan.
Modern living has demanded that the rural folks acquire relevant skills and knowledge so they would not be left behind in the government’s mainstream development agenda particular in the aspect of information communications technology ( ICT), Ahmad Lai said.
Thus, he wanted the participants who attended the programme to exercise what they learnt from the programme and share the information with others.
“You are the role models for lifelong learning and this is the spirit that should be followed by others.”
The outreach programme conducted by Pustaka Negeri Sarawak started in 2013 with Long Laput in Ulu Baram as the first location.
Since then, similar programmes were carried out at Long Bedian the following year followed by Kampung Kuala Sibuti in 2015.
A total of 230 participants ranging from students to housewives have benefited from the three outreach programmes.
For Saturday’s event, a total of 11 participants from the previous three knowledge outreach programmes were selected to attend the five- day programme at Pustaka Miri.
During the event, participants were exposed to various knowledge, information and skills by agencies such as Welfare Department, Miri Hospital, Department of Health and Agriculture Department.
The main objectives of the programme were to promote and introduce the functions as well as services of various agencies to the rural community, to expose and create awareness on the importance of being ICT and knowledge literate and to encourage lifelong learning amongst community members.
Additionally, the programme was also in line with Pustaka Negeri Sarawak’s vision and mission to help develop the people to be part of an information-savvy community.
Also present was Pustaka Negeri Sarawak’s head of ICT sector Wan Mazli Wan Razali.
Like the urban folk, people living in the rural areas also want the government to give them equal attention on basic needs such as health, education, welfare and many others. Ahmad Lai Bujang, Sibuti MP