BALAI RINGIN – In an address delivered at the inauguration of the new logo for Kampung Ensebang Sg. Burak and the symbolic handover of longhouse building materials, Deputy State Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan urged rural students to concentrate on their schooling as a vital foundation for their future prospects.
He asserted that education is the bedrock of individual progress, while heritage and social cohesion constitute the pillars that sustain rural communities.
He appealed for combined efforts from parents, educators and local stakeholders to ensure that children receive improved educational opportunities.
During the event on Sunday, Datuk Snowdan underscored the necessity of preserving local cultural heritage, emphasising that it serves as a key identity marker for Sarawak communities, one the younger generation must value and uphold.
He noted that his ministry has set aside a special budget to support arts courses, cultural workshops and classes aimed at keeping traditional practices alive in a changing world.
He also reminded villagers of the importance of harmony at the grassroots level, describing mutual respect, cooperation and unity as essential to sustained village prosperity.
The Balai Ringin Member of the Legislative Assembly also announced allocations for various community projects: a new women’s bureau kitchen, RM 3,000 to the education bureau, RM 5,000 to the women’s bureau, and additional disbursements to the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), expected to be delivered early next year.
His remarks echo his previous calls for accountability in the use of rural development funds. In May, he cautioned NGOs to allocate Minor Rural Project (MRP) funds strictly for their intended purposes.
He warned that investing them in fixed deposits, for instance, dilutes their intended impact on community programmes.
As Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan (MLA for Balai Ringin) remains closely engaged in both cultural and developmental initiatives across rural Sarawak.
