SIBU: A series of events has been planned to commemorate the golden jubilee of the formation of resettlements by the erstwhile Rajang Area Security Command (Rascom) during the communist insurgency era.
Working committee chairman, councillor Henry Kanyan, said the events were planned to raise awareness among the new generations about the sacrifices of the security forces and the role of Rascom during the period.
Among the events are an appreciation night, e-sport competition, ‘sukan rakyat,’ cooking competition, town hall session, pre-Gawai celebration, ‘Ngiling Bidai’ ceremony and Merdeka Day celebration.
“The events will be held at the four major former Rascom resettlements, namely at Nanga Sekuau, Nanga Jagau, Nanga Ngungun, and Nanga Tada.
“The pinnacle of the event is the golden jubilee celebration planned to be held in November, to which we will invite the Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg as the guest of honour,” he said in a statement on Monday (Feb 19).
According to Henry, the first event, which is the appreciation night with the police, will be held on March 9 at 6.30 pm at Sekuau multipurpose hall.
He said Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata is expected at the event.
“We have also proposed to build a monument at the four major resettlements and present special awards to those who served during the Rascom era,” he said.
Rascom’s establishment was announced by then Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak on March 26, 1972, after his visit to Nanga Kajah in Ulu Ngemah, Kanowit, in response to the deteriorating security situation posed by communists in the mid Rajang Basin.
It covered 58,544 square kilometres in the Third, Sixth, and Seventh Divisions.
Under Rascom, longhouse folk were regrouped and resettled under a Rascom scheme as a security measure against the communist threat.
Rascom was disbanded on April 6, 1995.
Also present were community leaders from the resettlements Penghulu Andrewson Ngalai Asom, Penghulu Ron Ugai, Penghulu Juni Masam, Penghulu Ugap Seribu, and Penghulu Bansa Kunchau.
