KUCHING: The superiority of a race lies in its attitude, values, mind and identity, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. He added that as such the culture and traditions of the Malay race which are their identities and values as well as the teachings of the religion must be maintained.
“We are known for our honesty, sincerity, loyalty, willingness to sacrifice, and always seeking to improve ourselves in order to uphold the Malay race. “If needed, we must also be brave to change our mindset and world view so that we will always be relevant with the current development,”said Awang Tengah while officiating the opening of the 7th Sarawak Malay Cultural Seminar at Pullman Hotel here yesterday.
Awang Tengah, who is also the Second Minister for Urban Development and Natural Resource, said negative natures which have caused the Malay community to become backward and lazy must be discarded. “Never again have such attitude that is to surrender to fate without daring to face challenges positively and with grit,” he said.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Amanah Khairat Yayasan Budaya Melayu Sarawak (AKYBMS) also revealed that Malays in Sarawak were the second largest community in the state with a composition of 23.4 per cent out of the overall Sarawak population which was more than 500,000.
He said that the number was large and should be given due attention as the Malays have an important role in generating development in the urban and rural areas. Awang Tengah also said that the process of urbanisation had witnessed a number of Malay emigration into the big cities. “It would have negative effects if the Malays who emigrated to towns were ill-equipped with knowledge and skills that would enable them to engage in economic activities and seize employment opportunities in towns,” he explained.
Stressing that education was core to the development of the ummah, he emphasised that it would always be relevant and will guarantee a brighter future as it opens up space for the Malays to improve themselves, families and communities. He also urged the Malays to look into the internal economic sector through baitulmal, zakat and fitrah to develop its role.
“These zakat and baitulmal institutions are not only created for capital and economic capacity but also for the manifestation of unity, cooperation, persistence and Malay spirit,” said Awang Tengah. He also called for joint coordination to tackle social challenges and issues affecting the Malays as it would affect the sustainability of the community’s development. Awang Tengah called on the Malays in Sarawak to always be united as unity has been the key to their success.
He explained that this was the goal of the leadership under the Chief Minister with the setting up of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). “We want PBB to continue to be the backbone of the State Government,” he stressed.
The three-day seminar from October 29 to 31 with the theme “Managing Culture in the Digital Era” was organised by Amanah Khairat Yayasan Budaya Melayu Sarawak (AKYBMS). About 800 Sarawakian Malay participants attended the seminar including ethnics Vaie Segan, Kedayan and Jati Meirek. The penalists of the seminar were from among the Malay peoples’ representatives, professional groups, academicians and social activists from Malay-Muslims non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
