KUCHING: Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) celebrated its 61st anniversary with a dinner at Imperial Hotel here on Sunday night.
Among those present were Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, new SIDS Chairperson, Dato Ir Alice Jawan, Science Advisor to the state government, Datuk Patinggi Alfred Jabu anak Numpang and former SIDS Chairperson, Tan Sri Dato Sri Empiang Jabu.
During the dinner, Sports Excellence Awards were presented to Emilie Nara Zi Yi Jabu (Rhythmic Gymnastics), Eugenia anak David (Squash), Sylvester Gaing anak Peter Jawa (Diving), Gwendolen Rema anak Donald Garin ( Taekwondo), Erlyisiana Jhatty anak Buma Tripple Jump), Daniel Nyuin anak Alfred Damu (Weightlifting 69kg) and Samuel Abas anak Alfred Damu (Long Jump).
Outgoing SIDS exco members, namely, Tan Sri Dato Sri Empiang Jabu, Dato Catherine Gramong, Datin Senorita Linang, Cecilia Entering, Julia Anding and Monica Sita Gaik were presented with souvenirs.
In his speech, Uggah attributed SIDS’ success to its strong leadership.
He said Empiang, who had been SIDS Chairperson from 1985, was always building bridges with the government.
He added that Empiang’s decision to step down as Chairperson of SIDS on her own accord was also a very significant factor.
“I am sure SIDS can be a role model especially to a lot of Dayak organisations,” he said.
Uggah, who is also the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Sarawak, hoped SIDS would help the government to eradicate poverty in Sarawak and help it to become a high income state by 2030.
“We have our agriculture transformation programme and agriculture parks in various parts of the state.
“We have a precision farming model at Rampangi and we hope we can attract more ladies to join the farming community.
“I notice from the SIDS programme book that you have a lot of economic activities, especially on handicrafts, and I think these can be developed,” he said, adding that the state government was developing collecting, processing and packaging centres.
Uggah hoped that SIDS would participate in the programmes so that its members would produce handicrafts and go into modern agriculture to ensure that the state would be an exporter of food products in the future.
