Uggah: Committee to identify urban poor Ibans formed
KUCHING: A committee of Iban community leaders has been formed to identify urban poor Ibans in Kuching, according to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
Speaking when officiating at a fundraising dinner hosted by the Christ Baptist Church Kuching here on Saturday, he said members of the committee were now identifying the urban poor in their respective areas.
“We have a number of Iban community leaders – one Temenggong, one Pemanca, seven Penghulu and a number of Tuai Rumah – who are involved in this committee. We really want them to identify those who need our help so as to know their problems and how best we can help them,” he added.
He also said although there are many fortunate Ibans who have better lives, have their own houses and their children are doing very well and are as welltodo as other communities in the city, there are also unfortunate ones living in places like slums and their children are victims of their circumstances.
Giving an example, Uggah said he witnessed poverty among the urban Ibans in Kuching during an ongoing charity event organised by his church friends in Tabuan for about 100 children, mostly Ibans.
“Some of these children are truants, some have drug or alcoholism problems and some have livelihood issues. So my friend and her group will take care of them, bringing them closer to Christ in the hope they will change and can have a much better future in life,” he said.
Uggah added that he was quite taken aback when he learnt of a voluntary food kitchen set up by an organisation to feed some 300 urban poor people, many of whom were Ibans, every day, as he did not expect such poverty to exist in society.
He noted that many of the urban poor Ibans live as squatters near river banks and in places close to the graveyards.
On their part, he informed that the state government and the committee are coming up with the appropriate action plan and programmes to help the urban poor in terms of education and welfare, besides assisting and encouraging them to take up agriculture and business.
Also present during the dinner were Kanowit MP Datuk Aaron Dagang, dinner organising chairman Jimbai Majang, Christ Baptist Church Kuching senior pastor Greman Ujang Slat and other officials.