Dr Sim: Practise inter-personal networking, less phone time
KUCHING: Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian hopes to see more interaction among the people who are spending more time on their mobile devices these days.
He said it was high time for the local community to address the lack of human interaction amid wide usage of smartphones.
He said this at the groundbreaking ceremony for the RM5million academy of the Kuching Cheng Der Welfare Association in Rantau Panjang Keranji, Bau near here yesterday.
“I hope the new academy will serve as an avenue for the people to cultivate inter-personal networking by putting down their handphones and practise rational thinking,” he said.
According to Dr Sim, Sarawakians are fortunate that the state does not have an official religion, a status that guarantees freedom of religion. He said the people of Sarawak must continue to respect one another so as to preserve racial integration and social harmony in the state.
A spokesperson for the academy Fong Kho Ming said the project was expected to be completed in three years.
He said the association and the academy aimed at promoting Chinese culture among the locals apart from playing a role to promote social harmony.
Fong was confident that the academy, once completed, would provide an environment conducive to learning and self-cultivation.