KUCHING: Education is the passport to success. With this cliché as the theme of his speech, Sarawak Indian Society (SIS) advisor Piara Singh called on Indian families to put emphasis on education.
He said being a minority in the state, the only way out for them was to get a proper education and be recognised in society.
“Otherwise without a decent education, our children will be loitering in the streets. We don’t want that to happen. We want to be professionals and be respected by the other communities,” he said at the presentation of study incentives and aid to needy children of members of SIS.
He noted that despite being a rather small community of some 10,000 among the three million or so population in the state, the community should be proud of themselves for their contributions to Sarawak.
Piara explained that though initially some of them arrived in Sarawak as tea plantation workers, policemen and military personnel in the 19th century, a sizeable number of Indians also arrived in the mid 20th century as teachers, doctors, engineers and top civil servants under the White Rajahs.
“They worked hard and placed great emphasis on education and the present educated generation is the product of their farsightedness and determination.
“Let’s keep this tradition going. Educate your children and gain a respectable position in society,” he said.
He singled out four of the incentive recipients yesterday for their hard work and sheer determination.
They are Striprabu Strimari, 30, his sister Stridevi, 35, Navin Singh Gurdev, 25, and Satiesvaran Ramachandran, 24.
Striprabu obtained a PhD in Civil Engineering from Unimas this year. He is the first local Indian to obtain a doctorate. He received RM2,000.
Stridevi obtained a Master in Education (Early Childhood Education) from Asia E University in 2017. She received RM1,500.
Navin completed his Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Business Management this year at Segi College. He received RM1,000.
Satiesvaran obtained a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Kolej Tinggi Belia dan Sukan in 2017. He received RM500.
Earlier, SIS president Strimari Rajamanikan said this was the first time since the formation of the society in 2008 that it was giving out education awards, incentives and aid in the form of cash, uniforms and shoes to needy students whose parents are members of SIS.
He said should the financial situation permit in the future, the incentives would be extended to deserving and needy students from outside SIS.
“Hopefully, we will be able to seek some form of assistance from the State Government.
“Our society has so far received strong support from our patron Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and we are grateful to him,” said Strimari.
He said the study awards and aid yesterday involved close to RM10,000.
A total of 15 primary and secondary school students also received the study awards and aid.
Also present at the function was SIS vice president R Ramachandran.
