KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasised the spirit of ‘segulai sejalai’ during his recent visit to Kapit, where the sense of unity resonated strongly among the local community.
He described the unity as evident through the heartfelt gestures from the local community, including a woman who presented him with a handwoven beaded vest and an Iban community leader who gifted him traditional attire—moments that left a deep impression on both him and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
“I was touched when a woman from a nearby village ran up just to present me with a handwoven beaded vest.
“The Iban community leader also presented traditional attire, which left a deep impression on me and amazed Azizah. The spirit of ‘segulai sejalai’ runs deep, reaching down to the grassroots,” he said when presenting the 2025 Budget in Parliament today (Oct 18).
The visit also saw Anwar inspecting the progress of several key development projects, including the construction of the Kapit District Police Headquarters (IPD) and new roadworks—projects that had been approved and recently commenced.
Recognising Kapit as a remote and underdeveloped district, Anwar stated that he witnessed firsthand the riverbank erosion that the residents had long requested assistance for.
He noted the increasing urgency of the situation as the erosion was encroaching closer to their homes.
As such, he has approved an immediate allocation of RM2 million to tackle riverbank erosion along the Rajang River, which has been inching closer to the nearby longhouses, including Rumah Panjang Robert, Nanga Sebatu.
