Women's Bureau Catalyst For Preserving Community Culture & Economy
BETONG: The longhouse-level Women's Bureau should continue to be strengthened to ensure the culture and heritage values of longhouse communities are preserved for future generations.
Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, who is also Layar Assemblyman, Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu, said efforts to empower women's roles need to begin now so that the cultural continuity and heritage values of the Iban community remain preserved.
He said this when officiating the Merarau Ceremony in conjunction with the launch of the Rumah Panjang Semumok Atas Women's Bureau at the Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan Sports Complex, Betong, on Saturday.
He said organising programmes such as the merarau ceremony not only provides an avenue to preserve the culture and traditions of longhouse communities, but also serves as a platform to strengthen ties among the community, particularly in the Layar constituency.
He also commended the role of longhouse chiefs and women's bureaus in the Layar area, who consistently cooperate at the grassroots level and support one another in the success of various programmes organised by other longhouses.
He also advised the Semumok Atas Women's Bureau to explore the potential of privately-owned land for agricultural activities and to market their produce to generate additional income.
He said the strategic location of Rumah Panjang Semumok Atas, close to Betong town, was an advantage that could be leveraged to expand the local community's economic activities.
Meanwhile, Betong Member of Parliament Dato Dr Richard Rapu also congratulated the Semumok Atas Women's Bureau on its establishment, noting that it not only plays an important role in the family institution, but also contributes to community administration and development at the grassroots level.
He further encouraged women to be more active in economic activities, including venturing into business, as well as to take advantage of the various courses, workshops and training provided by the Sarawak Government, particularly those related to running online businesses.
He said women skilled in producing handicraft-based products are also encouraged to venture into online business to expand their market and promote their products to a wider customer base.
At the same time, Dato Dr Richard also advised residents in the Betong area to safeguard their health amid the haze situation by taking precautionary measures, including wearing face masks when outdoors.
He also encouraged the public to take advantage of the Program Jualan Rahmah implemented in the Betong parliamentary constituency, covering the Layar, Bukit Saban and Saribas state constituencies, to obtain essential goods at lower prices, thereby helping to ease the burden of the cost of living.
At the event, Datuk Gerald Rentap and Dato Dr Richard each contributed RM5,000 to the Rumah Panjang Semumok Atas Women's Bureau to support the bureau's activities and operations.
Both of them also approved the application for a water tank for the Rumah Panjang Semumok Atas Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) to ensure water supply at the longhouse.
Also present were Betong Division UKAS Officer Tony Malang, Betong Division Land and Survey Department Superintendent TPr Moris Nayup, Betong District Iban Community Pemanca Norman Ngumbang, Penghulu Sebastian Randy Khadam, Rumah Panjang Semumok Atas Tuai Rumah TR Johnathan Lanjang, and Semumok Atas Women's Bureau Chairperson Lia Ginchang. -UKASnews
