BALAI RINGIN: More than 200 residents here received assistance as efforts to strengthen community wellbeing and improve rural healthcare services continued with the distribution of Christmas aid and the handover of new medical equipment to the Balai Ringin Health Clinic.
The initiative, organised by Yayasan PETRONAS in collaboration with Badan Amal Tenaga Isteri-Isteri Sarawak (SABATI) and the Balai Ringin Sub-District Office, aimed to support vulnerable families while strengthening rural healthcare facilities.
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, said the effort reflected the state’s ongoing commitment to uplifting communities in line with the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
“Social inclusion is a key pillar of PCDS 2030. We want development to reach everyone, regardless of background or location.
“Programmes like this ensure that rural communities, especially the B40 group, are not left behind,” he said at the PETRONAS Driving Lives Christmas 2025 programme on Friday (Dec 12).
Snowdan said the Christmas food basket distribution not only eased festive-season burdens but also helped foster community resilience.
“This assistance brings joy to families celebrating Christmas, but more importantly, it reminds them that the wider community cares.
“It is our hope that this support motivates recipients to continue improving their lives and their families’ wellbeing,” he added.
Earlier, Snowdan visited the Balai Ringin Health Clinic together with representatives from PETRONAS and SABATI to inspect newly contributed medical equipment, including patients’ beds, wheelchairs, infusion pumps and heavy-duty nebulisers.
He said the upgrades would significantly benefit local residents.
“With better equipment and improved facilities, the clinic can operate more safely, comfortably and efficiently. This is a meaningful step forward for Balai Ringin,” he said.
The Balai Ringin clinic is among 26 rural clinics across Sarawak identified to receive basic medical supplies worth RM1.3 million, with 17 clinics already upgraded statewide since 2023 under similar joint initiatives.
Snowdan praised the partnership between PETRONAS, SABATI and the Sarawak Health Department, noting that such collaborations are crucial for long-term community development.
“When the government, corporate bodies and NGOs come together with a shared goal, real and positive change happens,” he said.
He encouraged more corporate groups to emulate the commitment shown by Yayasan PETRONAS and SABATI.
“These are the kinds of initiatives that build a more inclusive, sustainable and harmonious society,” he said.
