KUCHING: Bidayuh associations are urged to continue giving education incentives to their excellent students in order to motivate them and others to excel in their studies.

Assistant Minister of Transportation Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, in giving this reminder, said giving such incentive would also help to motivate parents on the importance of education.

He said education was one important aspect that Bidayuh associations must emphasise to prepare the younger generation to face the challenging future.

“The Bidayuhs need a future generation who are educated to face the future. Good education is one very important aspect. It is thus important that Bidayuh associations put strong emphasis on education,” Dr Jerip, who is also Mambong assemblyman, said when presenting education incentives to five students and food parcel to 79 single mothers who are members of Persatuan Bidayuh Bra’ang Padawan (PBBP) at Kpg Bayur near here recently.

Dr Jerip said he was glad to note that unity among the Bidayuhs was strong as is evidenced by the many of such associations around like Persatuan Biperoh Kuching, Persatuan Biannah, Persatuan Bisapug and Persatuan Penyewa, which are platforms to look after the respective clans.

He hoped the associations would play a more active role to help their respective members in terms of welfare and the economy.

Later at the same function, Dr Jerip announced a RM200,000 allocation for PBBP to build a hawkers centre at the Bayur junction in Jalan Borneo Heights.

He believed the centre would thrive with the presence of Padawan sub-district office and a heath clinic in the vicinity.

Soon, a (Bayur) Rural Growth Centre would be built in the area.

PBBP president Clif Mengud was one of those who was present at the function.