KUCHING: News portal Dayakdaily’s annual The D’Drift is back and this year they will be presenting more than 1,000 children’s books to Penan children in SK Lasong Laku, to set up a children’s library as part of their travel-reporting trip.
Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) and Sarawak State Library contributed 500 copies while Dayakdaily’s and Pertubuhan Wartawan Bebas Kuching’s (Pewarta) concerted effort managed to raise another 514 books.
Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah commended the project initiated by Dayakdaily.
“It is a very noble project as they are bringing books for children of the Penan settlement at Lusong Laku,” he said on Today (July 4).
“I believe this would inspire the children to learn and to read more,” he said.
Abdul Karim, in this instance, called on on more corporate entities to do likewise by contributing more to schools or villages deep in the interior.
Commenting on the The D’Drift 2022, he said with the journalists going on travel-reporting trips such as visiting the national parks, they would also be able to showcase the beauty and unique places not only to Sarawakians but to the world at large.
Dayakdaily’s editor, Lian Cheng said she is looking forward to the continuous support from the Ministry and to contribute to the local community.
“This year The D’Drift 2022 is something different because we are going to send more than one thousand books.
“This is because we thought since we were going so far inland we should do something for the local community- Penan children,” she said.
Meanwhile, according to a press statement by Dayakdaily, the books will be handed over to Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon and he will pass the books to the school.
SK Lusong Laku, situated in the interior of Belaga serves mainly three Penan villages, about five hours away from Sungai Asap, and an additional two hours away from Bintulu.
D’Drifters this year will be joined by TV Sarawak (TVS) as well as Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) whose purpose is to check on internet coverage along the planned route of the trip.
Earlier, Abdul Karim officiated at The D’Drift 2022 flag-off ceremony held at Dayakdaily office.
