KUCHING: True success is never achieved alone but through unity and shared purpose, said Yayasan Sarawak former director Datuk Mersal Abang Rosli.
Speaking at the Majlis Jasamu Dikenang held at Hilton Hotel on Wednesday night (Apr 16), he shared how the institution was built on the spirit of togetherness, rather than the power of individuals alone.
“If everyone is paddling left, no one should paddle right. If we want to move fast, everyone must row in sync. That is our true strength at Yayasan Sarawak,” he said in his speech.
He also revealed that Yayasan Sarawak is now more than just a scholarship provider — it also owns its own educational institutions, including four universities, several colleges, and six schools, three of which are already fully operational.
According to Mersal, this success was also driven by prominent education figures such as the acting pro vice-chancellor, president and chief executive of Curtin University Malaysia, Professor Vincent Lee Chieng Chen, vice-chancellor of i-CATS University College (i-CATS UC) Datuk Dr. Mohamad Kadim Suaidi, and other educators whom he regards as one team, not working in silos.
“They’re not just lecturers. They are the heartbeat of Yayasan Sarawak. Every three months, we would sit together as a community, sharing ideas and planning for the future.
“But most importantly, continued support for the new leadership must be carried out with the same spirit.
“I ask everyone to give full support to the new director Datuk Mohamad Junaidi Mohidin. He is no stranger to public service. But he needs a strong team just like I had before,” Mersal said.
He also reminisced about the early days of Yayasan Sarawak’s establishment, which has now become a reference point for other foundations across the country.
“When I was younger, we used to look up to other foundations to learn how to plan and move forward. But now, people ask us how we made Yayasan so great.
“Perhaps they see that many of our former staff have secured top positions in other organisations or companies. That is a sign of our success,” he added.
Mersal began his career at Yayasan Sarawak in 1982 as an Administrative Assistant. He was appointed director of Yayasan Sarawak in July 2021 and retired in April 2025.
