DALAT: Where in Sarawak can one find people who are truly united? While many people might find it hard to be specific when answering this question, Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah simply pointed to two local villages Kampung Sungai Ud and Kampung Tanam.
She explained that these are where it is common for Muslims and Christians to live in the same house peacefully and harmoniously.
“They can do that because they respect each other’s religion. It is a way of life for them although others might find it unusual,” she said when officiating at a collaborative programme involving Student Volunteers Foundation (YSS) members and Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kampung Sungai Ud last Tuesday.
“So I hope the volunteers can bring back with them the message about unity and respect for each other’s religion,” she said, when welcoming the programme participants.
A total of 19 YSS youths comprising 11 Malaysian students and eight from other Southeast Asian countries are involved in the two-week programme.
During their stay here, the volunteers stay with their adoptive parents. She said to bring something back, they should first learn as much as possible about the uniqueness of this district particularly the prevailing unity and solidarity of the people of various racial and religious backgrounds.
She told them that the people living in Dalat are mostly Melanaus with various religions such as Islam, Christianity and others and yet they have co-existed and lived together peacefully and harmoniously for a long, long time.
“Learn about the Melanau culture including their traditional dress, and about their food such as sago pearls, ‘linut’, and even sago worms, ‘si’iet’,” she said.
According to her, the volunteers will engage in activities related to education, community development, health, agriculture and environment, information technology, and crisis and disaster management.
She also announced an allocation of RM6,000 for the programme, and presented a cheque for RM25,000 to SK Kampung Sungai Ud Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairman Juni Nor for the repair of the school’s security gate. Also present at the programme were Dalat District education officer Ahli Chikba, school headmaster Mohd Fauzi Abdullah and YSS board member Satish Rao Appalanaidu.
