BALAI RINGIN: The Rakan Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) Programme continues to play an important role as a platform to bridge the gap between the government and the grassroots community, thus ensuring that development information can be delivered accurately and effectively to the people.

Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said that initiatives such as the Rakan UKAS Programme not only serve as a medium for delivering government policies and programmes, but also open up a space for the people to understand the state's development agenda more clearly.

According to him, such programmes also serve as a key platform in strengthening community involvement in area development, including empowering leadership at the village level.

"Through a grassroots approach such as the Rakan UKAS Programme, local communities not only have the opportunity to obtain accurate information on government policies and initiatives, but can also share their views and community needs to ensure that the planned development truly benefits the people at the grassroots level," he said.

He said this when officiating the Rakan UKAS Programme: Berambeh Sungkey 2026 in Kampung Ensebang Jaya, here on Wednesday.

The Balai Ringin Assemblyman explained that in this context, efforts to empower women's leadership in the area have also shown positive development when approximately 30 per cent of the Ketua Kaum (KK) roles are held by women.

“There are 232 villages in my constituency, 30 per cent of which are led by female Tuai Rumah or Ketua Kampung while the remaining 70 per cent are male Ketua Kaum.

“It is one of my efforts to empower women in leadership roles in the Balai Ringin constituency and I hope that the local community can continue to support their leadership,” he said.

Datuk Snowdan also stressed that the Balai Ringin constituency needs to continue to be driven by its development in line with the existence of the Pan Borneo Highway which opens up new opportunities for economic growth and local development.

According to him, several major development projects are being planned and implemented to improve the facilities and well-being of the residents in the area.

“Soon the new Balai Ringin market project worth RM55 million as previously announced will go through the tender process.

“We will also build a new block of the Balai Ringin Health Clinic worth RM1.5 million in addition to the Phase II Southern Region Water Supply Project worth RM260 million which is still ongoing,” he explained.

Also present were UKAS Director Awang Putrayusrie Awang Redzuan, UKAS Special Administrative Officer Datu Takun Sunggah, Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) Serian Division Islamic Religious Officer Ustaz Madihi Jamali, JAIS Serian Division Assistant Religious Officer Ustaz Mohd Farhan Mahdi, Assistant Administrative Officer of the Balai Ringin Sub-District Office Mohd Adam Muslim, Balai Ringin area Penghulu Lama Bumpol, and Ensebang Jaya Ketua Kampung Jamilah Ahmad. -UKASnews