PAJLM praised for helping Lawas folk in Miri
MIRI: The new office of Anak Jati Lawas Association of Miri (PAJLM) would serve as one-stop centre to assist the people from Lawas during stopovers here.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan wants the association to play an effective role in providing community service to those coming from that district.
“There is no doubt that Miri offers better infrastructure and facilities that have been attracting people from Lawas who come to the city either for job and business opportunities, for education or even medical services.
“Such rural-urban migration is the modern concept of the ‘hijrah’ in Islam. Therefore, I want to see the PAJLM office as a onestop centre in Miri for the Lawas people,” he spoke at the opening of the PAJLM office in Riam Commercial Centre yesterday.
Awang Tengah, who is Bukit Sari assemblyman and PAJLM patron pointed that being away from their own district should not be an excuse for Lawas folk in Miri not to contribute to their home community.
“I want the people (Lawas folk in Miri) to fully utilise the association, as well as its office, towards providing the best community service for their people.”
The deputy chief minister was also very happy to see PAJLM take the role as coordinator by making relevant arrangements, including accommodation for people from Lawas who accompany their sick family members for medical treatment here.
The association, he noted, had also arranged for the return of the remains of departed Lawas folk back to their hometowns.
Meanwhile, Awang Tengah also reminded PAJLM on the need to work closely with other association here. Later, he announced a Minor Rural Project (MRP) allocation worth RM20,000 for the association.
In his remarks, PAJLM chairman Alias Mail described the association as a platform for the Lawas people in Miri to build strong communications and network with one another.
He said one of the main goals of the association would be to recruit more members.