KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said an initiative introduced by Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) through a memorandum of understanding with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) on establishing the Tan Sri Empiang Jabu Chair of Dayak Women Studies would enable more researches and programmes possible.
Thus, the chair would enhance the standing of Dayak women in society particularly in the field of social transformation.
“This chair will enable us to conduct research and also in the area of women’s role in society, SIDS members and Dayak women, to pursue research on how to upgrade ourselves in tandem with the state government’s economic transformation from the conventional approach to our economic management to a new approach in line with the direction of digitalisation towards Industrial 4.0,” he said before witnessing the signing of the MOU at a leading hotel here, yesterday.
Abang Johari stressed that technology had contributed immensely to connecting and engaging the people from all around the world.
“Women in Sarawak can master the latest technology in e-commerce as well as economics, and we must add value to our land,” he said.
“I believe with the collaboration (between SIDS and MoU would enable more areas to be explored by combining both technology and resources especially in the rural areas.”
Using the latest information on the process of production, it is possible to get good positions in the competitive world.
“For example the ‘pua kumbu’ weaving skills can be a source of revenue for rural women if you can connect the production with the market by adopting technology for global marketing,” he said.
“As for agriculture we need to improve our skills and ways of getting more and better products for export.”
