Organisers engage 17 groups to realise ‘Sarawak’s Pride’ record attempt

KUCHING: The organisers of ‘Sarawak’s Pride – Most Number of Unity Short Stories Project’ are getting 17 different ethnicbased associations, government departments, universities, and other organisations together to assist them in soliciting stories about unity from their respective communities and also from the public.

This project, which was launched on Feb 12, serves an attempt to make it into the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) by collecting the most number of unity short stories from Sarawak.

According to Yayasan Perpaduan Sarawak (YPS) chief executive Datu Aloysius Dris, the organisers need the help from these various groups and organisations to promote this project, and also from everyone to share their stories towards achieving this goal.

It is learnt that the MBR committee has set the criteria for this record- attempt, at 1,000 short stories. However, Aloysius points out the objective stated by State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani recently – that the number of submissions is not the primary goal; more importantly, all the stories should highlight unity in Sarawak.

“As Kuching is set to celebrate its 31st anniversary as a ‘city’, and the fourth year since being accorded the title ‘City of Unity’, the aim of this project is to collect short stories on unity from ( people from) all walks of life in Sarawak, and then, to be shared with everyone to understand why unity is our pride and how unity may be further enhanced,” Aloysius told the representatives of the contributing organisations during a recent briefing, where Sarawak Development Institute chief executive officer Lelia Sim was also present.

Aloysius also said although Kuching had been given the recognition as a ‘City of Unity’, unity should be seen as an identity of the whole of Sarawak.

Meanwhile in her remarks, Sim said the selected stories would be showcased at a walk-in maze, to be opened at Kuching Waterfront this Aug 1 in conjunction with ‘Kuching City Day 2019’.

Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is also YPS chairman, is expected to officiate at the ceremony. It was also mentioned during the recent briefing that certificates of participation would be presented to those whose stories had been selected, and special prizes would be up for grabs for the best three stories from each division.

The briefing gathered representatives of government bodies like Kuching Resident’s Office, Samarahan Resident’s Office, Tebedu District Office, Kuching North City Hall ( DBKU), Kuching South City Council ( MBKS), Padawan Municipal Council ( MPP), Lundu District Council ( MDL), Serian District Council ( MDS) and Pustaka Negeri Sarawak; institutions such as Universiti Teknologi Mara Kota Samarahan Campus and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus; as well as ethnic-based associations like Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA), Federation of Chinese Associations of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions, Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU), Lun Bawang Development Society Sarawak, Amanah Khairat Yayasan Budaya Melayu Sarawak (AKYBMS), Federation of Orang Ulu Malaysia (Forum), and Orang Ulu National Association (Ouna).

Those interested to submit their short stories can enquire more by sending emails to sarawakpride@ gmail.com, going to www.yps. org.my and filling up the online form there, or contacting SDI via WhatsApp at 013- 671 8063.

For more information on the project or promotional assistance for the project, contact the organisers via 082- 415 484.

Use the hashtag # sarawakpride to follow updates about this project via social media ( Facebook and Instagram).