‘Continue ‘bejalai’ practice to seek better prospects’
SIBU: The age-old Iban practice of ‘bejalai’ (travelling to seek greener pastures) is still relevant today, observes Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi.
According to him, many Sarawakians especially the youths have gone out to work and stay not only in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia, but also in other countries.
“This is not a negative thing – it should be seen as a good thing in that the youths need to go out of their comfort zones, face their fears of being far away from their families and seek jobs abroad to increase their incomes and at the same time, their knowledge that would help develop the state more progressively,” he said in his address at the ‘Sarawak Youth Night 2017’ in Dewan Sri Lestari of Menara KKLW in Putrajaya recently.
The gathering, hosted by the Selangor-Kuala Lumpur Kapit Song Welfare Association, also held a briefing on development and assistance from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKLW) available for entrepreneurs.
Also present were the association’s president Stanley Jaul Kampit and organising committee chairman Darren Douglas Jarukan.
The gathering was attended by Sarawakians who are working in the public and private sectors, private as well as students pursuing tertiary education in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
On boosting incomes, Nanta said the present economic situation is a global problem and the people need to be more competitive in order to face rising cost of living, of which one way is through business.
He said through the initiative carried out by his ministry, many kinds of assistance are being provided to the community especially those in the rural areas to start or develop their business.
“Thus Sarawakians, especially the youths, must grab the opportunity of becoming the ‘job creators’ instead of ‘jobseekers’,” said Nanta, who is Kapit MP.
Earlier, the deputy minister presented an award to Jonathan Nyepa for his achievements in the national and international 100m athletics events.
The Belaga-born athlete broke the 10.3secs record held by former national sprinter and fellow Sarawakian, Watson Nyambek.
“This is among the prime examples of our youths who are brave, hardworking and striving for success,” Nanta added.
The gathering was supported and sponsored by Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi Jugah, Pua Heritage Boutique, Paing Untah, Lidam Assan, Syamil Rentap and Rajang Hilir Social Club.
This is not a negative thing – it should be seen as a good thing in that the youths need to go out of their comfort zones, face their fears of being far away from their families and seek jobs abroad to increase their incomes and at the same time, their knowledge that would help develop the state more progressively. — Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development