MUKAH: The Melanau Cultural Symposium (MCS) is going to be a routine programme, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Johari Tun Openg when launching the 7th MCS 2018 at Kingwood Resort here on Thursday.
According to him, the symposium is one of the most appropriate platforms to assist the state government to come up with policies to develop Sarawak.
“I have told the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud about it (to make the programme a regular event) as it has received encouraging feedbacks from the participants.
“To come up with a good policy, we have to listen to the people especially on what they want,” he said in his speech.
Taking into account the unity and harmony of the people as the state’s development backbone, Abang Jo noted that the state government would allocate more grants for rural infrastructural projects.
“For instance, we will allocate a sum of RM2.8 billion for the rural water supply; RM2.3 billion (rural electrification); and RM6 billion (coastal roads construction including Batang Lassa of RM600 million).
“I will announce the source of the fund when I table the state budget this Monday. It is going to be the biggest budget ever for Sarawak,” he disclosed.
The three-day event (October 31 to November 2) was organised by Federation of Melanau Associations Sarawak (FMAS) in collaboration with Melanau Association of Kuching, Melanau Association of Mukah and the state government.
Among the activities at the programme were tabling of papers and workshop related to the social, economy, entrepreneurship and cultural of Melanau ethnic and mini-exhibition.
Meanwhile, Tellian Assemblyman who is the event joint-deputy organising chairman Yussibnosh Balo said, “The symposium has not only come up with a resolution but, rather a quality one, and it has been handed over to Abang Johari by FMAS president Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Leo Toyad earlier.”
According to him, the local leaders were always behind every activity that meant to preserve and enrich the arts and culture in the state.
“We always support the healthy activities that meant for the prosperity of the community including arts and culture,” he said.
