KAPIT: Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) continues engaging with the youths here by organising an awareness programme on drugs, cigarettes and inhalant abuse and the consequences including punishment under the law for 300 students from ten primary and secondary schools. The programme was held in collaboration with Kapit District Education Office and SMK Kapit 1.
In a press statement issued here yesterday, SEB stated that this programme was in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in promoting health and safety awareness among school’s students. The speakers were officers from the National Anti-Drug Agency, Sibu branch and Royal Malaysian Police- Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division Kapit branch.
Officiating the event was Pelagus State As semblyman Wi l son Nyabong Ijang. Also present were Sarawak Energy’s Covering Manager for Community Relation Augustine Supen Taja, Principal of SMK Kapit 1, Azlinda Mohd Nor and representatives from Kapit District Education office, Royal Malaysian Police and National Anti-drug Agency. Wilson lauded Sarawak Energy’s effort in organising the campaign as a way to eradicate drug abuse among students.
“Civic and anti-drug education programmes should be conducted regularly to combat drug problems in schools. Schools are supposed to be a place to educate young people and to instil positive values to keep them away from drugs and social issues,” Wilson said. Commenting on the event, Sarawak Energy’s Assistant General Manager for CSR and Sustainability, Jiwari Abdullah said Sarawak Energy was committed in supporting education for youths in both academic and social aspect.
“We believe more people are realising that substance addiction has no place in the society and this affects everybody,” added Jiwari. To promote a healthy lifestyle, Sarawak Energy would continue to work with the community and relevant agencies to implement youth development programme. Students who attended the oneday progamme were from SMK Kapit, SMK Kapit 2, SMK Selirik, SMK Baleh, SK Methodist, SK Sungai Amang, SK Kampung Baru, SJKC Hock Lam, SK Kapit and SK Sungai Kapit and their teachers participated in this one-day programme. They commented that the programme was useful for them in handling drug issue as well as to understand and continue to spread awareness on the dangers relating to drug abuse.
Delyna Jembu from SMK Selirik said they gained a lot of new information and knowledge throughout the talk. The presentation from both speakers provides vital knowledge on drug-related issues from two different agencies namely the Royal Malaysia Police and National Antidrug Agency and how they differ in terms of responsibilities but complements each other in combatting the issue on drug abuse.
Another student, Boniface Luyoh from SMK Kapit expressed his excitement on being part of the “Pembimbing Rakan Sebaya (PRS)” programme – a school curricular club where students are chosen as role models in providing mental, social or emotional assistance to those in need. Boniface said that friends play an important role in influencing the action of another especially in the matter of deciding whether what is right or wrong.
