Awang Tengah kicks off the Samarindok concert with three strums of the ‘Gambia’ while others look on.

LAWAS: The success of rural students who gained a good education and went on to become professionals and leaders in the private and public sectors should be emulated by the younger generation.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said these former rural students have proven it is not impossible to overcome the challenges of a lack of infrastructures and facilities to succeed in acquiring a good education as a passport to a better future.

“We have ministers, professionals, successful corporate figures and many others who came from rural schools and succeeded through the emphasis of getting a good education,” he said.

Awang Tengah, who is Bukit Sari state assemblyman, said this while officiating at the ‘Samarindok’ concert in Sundar Town Square on Saturday night.

The concert was organised by Sarawak Malay Cultural Foundation Trust Board (AKYBMS).

There was no excuse for students not to succeed in their education if they are determined to succeed, he said, adding that ideally, each family should have half of their children graduating from universities, while the others equipped with skills obtained through technical and vocational education training (TVet).

The concert, meanwhile, saw crowds entertained by cultural performances lined up by the organiser from different cultural troupes.

Also present at the function were Awang Tengah’s wife Datuk Dayang Morliah Awang Daud,  Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang, Lawas District Officer Hussaini Hakim,  Lembanga Khairat Kebudayaan Melayu Sarawak general manager Datuk Dr Sanip Said, and Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka Sarawak branch director Dr Hazami Jahari.