SIBU: The Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) will organise more engagement programmes with political service centres across the state to ensure accurate information dissemination.
According to Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information, and UKAS), Datuk Abdullah Saidol, they intend to conduct as many engagement programmes as possible, likely within the first quarter of this year.
“There are so many government aid initiatives that the public is unaware of. Yes, we acknowledge the role of the media in delivering news through reports and portals — journalists have their role too.

“But still, sometimes what is reported depends on just a few questions from the public (the media is usually a one-way communication channel). We do not blame them for not knowing everything,” he said during a press conference following the briefing programme on ID Registration and Application for Sumbangan Keperluan Asas Sarawak (SKAS) with the Service Centre, officiated by Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation, and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, at the Sarawak State Library (Pustaka) here yesterday (Feb 7).
Abdullah said that the programme is not limited to SKAS alone but can also encompass various ministries in Sarawak, particularly those offering government aid, such as the Ministry of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development; the Ministry of Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development; the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication, and others.
“As Dr Annuar rightly mentioned earlier (in his speech), the staff at service centres are indeed the focal point and frontline personnel dealing with the people.
“All sorts of questions and issues raised by them during the engagement sessions are not fabricated — they are real concerns from the community,” he added.
Meanwhile, regarding the programme, Abdullah, who is also Semop assemblyman, said that a total of 72 assemblyman’s service centres and 22 MPs’ service centres will be involved in the three-series programme to be held this year.