Women's Bureau Catalyst For Rural Development, Women Must Continue To Be Empowered
BETONG: The Women's Bureau is not merely a platform bringing together women, but also serves as a catalyst for economic development, education and unity in rural communities.
Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, said women must continue to be empowered as they are capable of contributing to family and community development through economic activities and entrepreneurship.
He said this when officiating the Majlis Merarau Biro Wanita and Kampung Development and Security Committee (JKKK) event at Rumah Panjang Serudit B, here, on Saturday.
Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, who is also the Bukit Saban Assemblyman, said the various developments enjoyed by rural communities today prove that the policies and initiatives of the Sarawak Government under the leadership of the Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, have brought significant improvements to the people's standard of living.
Touching on economic development in Bukit Saban, he said the area will soon be equipped with the Bebuling Airport, a Collection, Processing and Packaging Centre (CPPC) and the Bebuling Agropark, which will serve as catalysts for economic development based on modern agriculture.
He said the development is a strategic step towards creating a complete value chain covering the production, processing, packaging and marketing of local agricultural produce, thereby increasing the income of smallholders.
He explained that development in Bukit Saban is structured based on the area's competitive advantages through allocations from the Betong Division Development Agency (BDDA), in line with the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), which emphasises economic prosperity, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
On the economic front, he said the government continues to assist the people through various agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes, including fertiliser subsidies, pepper and oil palm cultivation projects, and free-range kampung chicken and pig rearing, to increase household income.
He also urged parents to take advantage of the Sarawak Government's free education policy by placing emphasis on their children's education up to tertiary level, as education is key to producing a knowledgeable and skilled generation.
As a sign of support for efforts to empower women, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah announced an allocation of RM20,000 to upgrade the Women's Bureau store at Rumah Panjang Serudit B, RM10,000 as Women's Bureau funds, and RM5,000 to each of the 43 families of Rumah Panjang Serudit B to help meet infrastructure upgrading needs.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Betong, Dato Dr Richard Rapu, said women not only play a role in managing households but are also capable of being important contributors to family economic growth through involvement in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
He said the MSME sector contributed approximately 39.5 percent to Malaysia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024, proving that the role of small entrepreneurs, including women, is highly significant.
He said many women have now successfully ventured into various business fields such as food, handicrafts, agriculture and online sales, which have the potential to grow if pursued with discipline, dedication and determination.
At the same event, Dato Dr Richard also announced an allocation of RM5,000 to support the implementation of programmes and activities by the Women's Bureau of Rumah Panjang Serudit B.
Also present were Betong Resident Datu Richard Michael Abunawas and Betong District Officer Laga Kueh. -UKASnews
