LAWAS: The Building Inclusive Community (BIC) 5.0 programme by Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (AZAM) drew 70 participants from diverse backgrounds over two days from Dec 13.
Its chief executive officer (CEO) Ali Suhaili said hosting BIC in Lawas was a strategic step to ensure rural and border communities also have access to platforms for dialogue and human capital development.
“Lawas has its own strengths in terms of community and geography. By bringing BIC here, AZAM wants to ensure that communities in border areas are not left out of the state’s development.
“Our goal is clear — no community should be left behind in Sarawak’s development,” he said in a statement by AZAM Sarawak on Monday (Dec 15).
Lawas hosted the final BIC series for 2025, following previous events in Kuching, Betong, and Kapit.
Meanwhile, iBrandium chief executive officer (CEO) Afiq Khatem, an early collaborative partner of the BIC programme, described its growth as a significant milestone in the collective effort to build an inclusive society.
He said the programme has developed considerably from its initial implementation in Kuching and is now fully led by AZAM and expanded to Betong, Kapit and Lawas.
“BIC began as a collaborative project between YES Sarawak and iBrandium with AZAM Sarawak to strengthen public understanding of diversity and inclusivity.
“Seeing the programme grow to other divisions and become a key platform under AZAM is a proud development. It shows that more communities want to understand their role in the state’s development,” he said.
According to AZAM Sarawak, the closing ceremony was officiated by Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong, who represented the Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
In his speech, he said programmes such as BIC provide space for communities to understand their roles in building a more inclusive, caring and progressive society, expressing confidence that the programme would continue to have a positive impact on Lawas.
