KUCHING: RM200,000 will be given to Batang Ai community yearly for education purpose starting 2018, as part of Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) social responsibility initiatives. According to Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing, the fund is channeled through Bakun Charitable Trust because they are the managing organisation that has helped the Penan community in Belaga and also those directly affected by the Murum Hydroelectric Plant.
“For Batang Ai, Assistant Minister of Industries and Investment, Malcolm Mussen Lamoh is answerable to the Bakun Trust Fund and he will find out who beneficiaries are and Bakun Trust Fund will endorse it,” said Masing after the exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SEB and Bakun Charitable Trust held at SEB building in Kuching Isthmus, yesterday.
He added that SEB realised there was a basic need to have educated people from Batang Ai and that was why they extended their education support to Batang Ai community.
Masing also noted that for Murum people who have been receiving RM200,000 annually for past three years (total RM600,000), the matter was handled by the Assistant Minister of Water Supply, Datuk Liwan Lagang. “He will be in charge of it and they will also recommend to us who among the Penan’s kids that are qualified to receive it,” he said.
The MoU betwee SEB and Bakun Charitable Trust was inked to signify the collaborative partnership in improving the communities employment prospect and socioeconomic progress through a strong foundation in good education. Meanwhile, SEB Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sharbini Suhaili said that the fund for Batang Ai was aimed to enhance the quality of primary and secondary learning in the area and motivate students to work towards and obtain tertiary education qualification and better employability.
“We are committed to developing strategic initiatives and partnership that will help drive the capability development in the state, especially in areas and for communities directly affected by our projects,” said Sharbini.
The schools which would benefit from the fund in Batang Ai were SMK Lubok Antu, SK Nanga Delok, SK Ulu Engkari, SK Nanga Tibu, SK Sbanki, SK Skarok and SK Batang Ai. SEB was represented by its CEO, Sharbini Suhaili while Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing represented Bakun Charitable Trust.
