Off-road challenge for MBA students
LOCATED within the Kayan territory of Baram district, Long Bedian is accessible in four hours by fourwheel drive vehicles from Miri. To get there, one has to go through rough old logging path with some really harrowing road conditions.
With its remoteness and challenging travel conditions, the villagers are constantly deprived of basic necessities, such as education and healthcare support and facilities.
A team of Masters of Business Administration (MBA) students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Graduate School of Business, who called themselves “The Right Hand” (TRH), recently went on a mission to conduct a three-day outreach programme in Long Bedian.
Founded with the aim to deliver help and support to those in need, the group set off on an adventure to the village for a programme called
which comprises motivational, educational and healthcare support for schoolchildren and the community of Long Bedian. They collaborated with the Islamic Dental Association of Malaysia (IDAM) and IMAM Response and Relief Team (IMARET).
TRH project manager Adham Anuar said: “Reaching out to the community that is not within an easy reach is something that we believe will add value in our every step and endeavour in helping those that are in need. It also serves as a bridge to connect East and West Malaysia and as a symbol of our care and love for our fellow countrymen.”
The team went through gruelling and bumpy road conditions due to the rainy season and also sloping terrains to make it to the village.
At Sekolah Model Khas K9 Long Bedian, TRH conducted a one-day motivational programme targeting 145 Form Two and Three students.
“The children are our future. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to equip them with proper education,” Adham said.
“The main idea of the project was to try to close the education gap between those in the urban and remote rural areas. Currently, the school provides education from Primary One to Form Three.
“However, students in Long Bedian do not feel the need to continue their education, partly due to logistics problem and the inability to continue their studies in Miri.
“This issue needs to be addressed to ensure that each child has the opportunity to pursue and achieve his dreams at a higher level. We need to educate them on the importance of completing their secondary education,” Adham said, adding that the team conducted a series of fun activities and talks for the students.
Facilitator Audra Shaleena said that the students were fast learners.
“They were initially resistant and shy to participate, but they became more responsive and open as the activities became more interesting. They were able to grasp topics related to future aspiration and career.”
TRH also donated educational support to improve the quality of student learning and academic performances. Among the items donated to the school are school books, stationery, clothes, school uniforms and an LCD projector.
To address the dental and health conditions among the schoolchildren, IDAM conducted a one-day oral healthcare activity, focusing on oral hygiene and prevention of oral issues.
The group conducted fun activities targeting primary schoolchildren, such as teeth-brushing activity and interactive dental talk, with the aim to provide the children an early exposure to oral healthcare routine and to reduce the occurrence of oral diseases in children.
IDAM volunteer Dr Hanif Suffian said: “Oral healthcare for primary schoolchildren was given priority as their oral health would determine their oral health status in future. It is important to cultivate a healthconscious behaviour when they are young.”
Doctors from IMARET conducted health talks, focusing on nutrition education and sexual abuse among teenagers.
As the community of Long Bedian has poor access to dental and healthcare facilities, TRH also organised a one-day free mobile clinic.
The event kicked off with free basic health screening for body mass index (BMI), blood, cholesterol, glucose, health counselling, dental services and screening. Free medical supplies and vitamins were distributed.
Twenty volunteers, including nurses and allied health department, medical officers, dentists and pharmacists, volunteered at the mobile clinic, which saw 133 villagers making a beeline for examinations and checks.
They were initially resistant and shy to participate, but they became more responsive and open as the activities became more interesting. They were able to grasp topics related to future aspiration and career”.