SIBU: The involvement of state representatives’ service centres in the Sarawak government’s initiatives and assistance programmes is crucial, said Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation, and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.
He emphasised that service centres played a key role as they were the closest entities to the people’s representatives in each constituency.
“As politicians, we need visibility not just to win elections but to ensure that people are aware of the Sarawak government’s efforts.
“For example, the PTPTN loan repayment assistance. Sarawak is the only state implementing this initiative and has allocated millions of ringgit for it, yet we do not know who the beneficiaries are.
“In fact, some recipients may not even realise that this initiative is funded by the state government,” he said during the briefing on ID Registration and Application for the Sumbangan Keperluan Asas Sarawak (SKAS) with the Service Centre at the Sarawak State Library (Pustaka) here today (Feb 7).
The Nangka assemblyman also highlighted the importance of using service centres as intermediaries to ensure that government initiatives reach their intended target groups.
He noted that their extensive network within the community made them well-positioned for this role.
Dr Annuar added that his ministry would collaborate with service centres to implement the Sarawak government’s free laptop initiative, which provided laptops to Sarawakian students enrolled in public and private higher learning institutions (IPTA and IPTS).
“My minister, Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, has requested that the service centres be involved in distributing these laptops to students,” he said.
Dr Annuar also commended the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) for organising the briefing and involving service centres in the SKAS programme.
“I will work closely with UKAS on other programmes, especially in education assistance, to ensure the service centres play a direct role and the community fully benefits from the government’s initiatives,” he added.
The programme was also attended by Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information, and UKAS) Datuk Abdullah Saidol.
