RTP trip to Kapit an eye-opener for rural community leaders

KAPIT: A recent programme organised by Deputy State Secretary (Rural Transformation) Datu Jaul Samion exposed a number of community leaders, as well as administrative officers from the Resident and District Offices ( Rando) to good management practices that they could emulate and implement in their respective areas.

The three- day ‘ Rural Transformation Programme ( RTP) Trip with Ketua Kaum/ Ketua Masyarakat ( KKKM) and Rando Administrative Officers 2018’ also included a visit to Rumah Benggau at Nanga Sut in Baleh near here, as well as a briefing on development conducted by Kapit Resident Joseph Belayong at Bletih Complex in town.

Rumah Benggau was chosen as part of the programme list in view of the longhouse’s progress and achievements by its villagers, which earned it the ‘National Desa Perdana ( Exemplary Village) Award’ last year.

The briefing at Bletih Complex exposed to the RTP trip participants all aspects of Kapit including its administration, local political issues and situation, its diverse ethnicity, settlements (villages and longhouses), socio-economics, infrastructure and amenities, as well as education.

In his remarks, Jaul said he wanted rural community and grassroots leaders to adapt to the new leadership and management mindset in order to develop their resepctive villages and longhouses.

“If you look at Rumah Benggau, there are many other longhouses that are so much better in term of physical development and infrastructures.

“Still, Rumah Benggau stands out because of its quality management. This longhouse even has a website, which facilitates interactive communications. This is the technology that they have adopted – a part of information technology that is lacking in many other longhouses,” he said.

Jaul also expressed his hope to see ‘more Rumah Benggau in other divisions across Sarawak’.

“This is the main intention of this visit. I hope this would be an eyeopener not only for the Ibans, but also for the Malays, the Bidayuhs and other communities.

“Kapit is lucky to have Rumah Benggau,” he added.

Apart from Rumah Benggau and the briefing at Bletih Complex, the participants of the RTP trip were also taken to Terasang Market and interacted with the Dayak traders there.