KUCHING: The state’s Gabungan Pendidikan Melayu Malaysia (GPMM Sarawak) may open its doors to other Bumiputera races soon.


Fadillah (centre) cutting the ‘pulut kuning’ to mark the start of the Hari Raya gathering, as other Sarawak GPMM members join in.

Its chairman Datuk Fadillah Yusof said although the organisation’s focus was on empowering the Malays through academic achievements, any future cooperation to assist those from other native communities would not be ruled out.

He pointed out that he aspired to see GPMM Sarawak to be a platform to pool together agencies, non-government organisations (NGOs) and teachers towards the academic excellence for the Bumiputeras.

“At this moment, we are still giving priority to the Malays. Once we have succeeded in our aim to empower them, we will expand our membership to other Bumiputera races,” he said when officiating at GPMM Sarawak’s Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri on Sunday night.

Fadillah, who is also Works Minister and Petra Jaya MP, said GPMM Sarawak was encouraging the Malays in Sarawak to pursue either tertiary education or skills training certification so that they could participate in the nation’s industrialisation, particularly slated for Vision 2020.

He hoped that with the right skills and expertise, Sarawak Malays would assist the state in filling up the vacancies to be created by industries in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

“We want to see the Malays excel in both of academic and skills training fields. It is our aspiration that by 2020, we would produce successful young Malays who are competitive, resilient, creative and ever ready to take on challenges in the increasingly borderless world.”

Meanwhile, GPMM Sarawak deputy chairman Hasbi Habibullah said the organisation’s membership comprised Malays of various backgrounds and professional disciplines.

“We are committed in our aim to see Malays of Sarawak doing well in studies and technical field. Therefor we hope to work together with other NGOs and bodies that share the same goal with us,” he said.