SARATOK – The Saratok District Council has brought government representatives and longhouse residents together through its Day with the Community 2026 programme, which focused on strengthening local partnerships, improving public awareness of government services and promoting environmental responsibility.
The programme was held at Rumah Jamping in Nanga Atoi, Awik, on 27 October 2026. It brought together council representatives, officials from government departments, community leaders and local residents for a series of recreational activities, information-sharing sessions and environmental initiatives.
Among those attending were Dato Friday anak Belik; Saratok District Council secretary McCrea Joseph Pererra; Nanga Atoi, Awik, longhouse chief Tuai Rumah Jamping anak Bujang; and Councillor Richard anak Usah, deputy chairman of the council’s Standing Committee on Community Development, Tourism and Entrepreneurship.
Other attendees included Pemanca Thomas Lam it, Agrobank Saratok branch manager Margaret Cheremie anak Gombang, and National Anti-Drug Agency assistant anti-drug officer for Betong District Hilary Intan anak Kunul.
The programme featured an aerobics session, recreational games, briefings by government departments, a flower-planting activity and a lucky draw. The range of activities was intended to encourage participation from residents while creating opportunities for direct engagement between the community, the local authority and government representatives.
One of the activities involved planting flowers around the venue to improve its appearance and encourage greater awareness of environmental cleanliness. The initiative also highlighted the importance of shared responsibility in maintaining public surroundings and creating cleaner, greener and more welcoming community spaces.
The activity offered residents and organisers an opportunity to work together on a practical task, reinforcing the role of community participation in maintaining the local environment. Sustained cleanliness and environmental care often depend on cooperation between residents, community leaders and the agencies responsible for local services.
The aerobics session and recreational games provided opportunities for participants to take part in physical activities and interact in a relaxed setting. These activities also helped bring together residents and programme organisers outside formal discussions, supporting the broader aim of strengthening relationships within the community.
Government department briefings formed another important part of the programme. The sessions provided a platform for agencies to explain their respective functions, responsibilities and available services, helping residents become more familiar with the support and information they can seek from public institutions.
Direct engagement between government representatives and residents can also provide opportunities for questions, clarification and the exchange of information. For communities in longhouse areas, such interactions can help improve understanding of public services and establish clearer channels of communication between local residents and the relevant authorities.
The Saratok District Council said the programme reflected its commitment to strengthening public engagement, working with community leaders and raising awareness of local development, cleanliness and environmental well-being.
The participation of the longhouse leadership was central to the gathering, bringing community representatives into a shared programme with council officials and government agencies. Cooperation with local leaders can help public initiatives reach residents more effectively and ensure that community priorities remain part of local engagement efforts.
The council expressed its appreciation to Tuai Rumah Jamping anak Bujang, the residents of Rumah Jamping, participating government departments and all other parties who contributed to the programme.
The council also expressed hope that similar initiatives would continue, providing further opportunities to strengthen relationships between the local authority and longhouse communities while promoting unity and collective responsibility.
The Day with the Community programme combined public information, recreation and environmental activities in an effort to encourage closer cooperation between residents and government agencies, with the broader objective of supporting a harmonious, clean and prosperous community. â Sarawak Daily
