KUCHING: Recipients of the Best Student Awards at the fourth convocation ceremony of the Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (Centexs) held at Penview Convention Centre Demak (PCCD) in Demak here yesterday were delighted and grateful for the training given to them.
Hansen Agong, 21, a Lun Bawang from Lawas, who is already employed for six months with an engineering company in Labuan, said he was happy to receive the best student award in Welding Technology (6G Advanced).
“The more than two-years training I had at Centexs was very useful,” he said after receiving his award.
Lidia Inang, of Bidayuh-Iban parentage (Serian-Simunjan origin) said her six-month training was very useful to improve her work skills. She is now doing her own tailoring business at her home in Bandar Baru Samariang here.
Timothy Lucas Anyie, a Kenyah from Kapit said he was very happy to be the best trainee in the Rotating Machinery Programme.
“It was five months’ training (three months of theory and two months practical) and I am thankful to all the teaching staff,” said Timothy, who is now working as a technician in Bintulu.
Hansen, Lidia and Timothy were among the 15 graduates who received their awards at the convocation ceremony yesterday.
Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chuk Pai who also attended the convocation said, “I am very happy that five students from my area graduated and had their convocation today (yesterday). I am very proud of them.
“This is the fourth time we have students from our area graduating from Centexs. I think most of them are already employed.
“This kind of training is very useful. Not all of us are good in academic studies and can go to universities. For the rural people, this programme is important because it provides them with skills training.”
Romio Ding, an executive with Tabung Amanah Bakun disclosed that five Penans graduated yesterday.
They were the fourth batch of students that Tabung Amanah Bakun sponsored under the Sarawak Energy Berhad grants which is RM200,000 annually.
“Our programme has made an impact on the Penan youths. The majority of them who had completed their training had gained employment. This is the only way for them to get out of the clutch of poverty,” said Romio.
He said for students going for certificates to degree levels they are given RM1,000 each one off. They are also given instant assistance for fares and basic needs when they travel for the first time to their schools,” he said.
Padan Singa, secretary of Persatuan Kaum Bakatan, said they had two Bakatan students, the first Centexs’ batch of graduates from the community.
“Of course we have other graduates from different institutions, but since our area is within Belaga under Datuk Liwan Lagang, we follow their programme. So it was only in the last two years that we sent our first batch of students,” he said.
“We are targeting another batch to complete their studies in a few months. This batch is from the Nanga Merit area. As mentioned by Kennedy Chuk Pai, this area was extended to cover Tabau, so it is an extra task for us who handle matters related to youths from Belaga and Murum,” he said.
