President’s Message

New Year, New Resolve For us in the association, 2011 had been an eventful one. Our current tenure took effect at the end of March 2011 following the AGM which was held at the end of that month. Needless to say, in 2011, we have only seven months to deliver results. Not withstanding this, looking back at what we have executed, I can confidently say that 2011 had been an eventful and meaningful one for us.

We had our ten year anniversary celebration dinner at the end of July and worthy of mentioned here is the fact that, for the first time ever, we managed to raise a significant sum for our SDGA Higher Education Relief Fund. Heartfelt thanks to all who have contributed in one way or another towards the success of this noble cause. This fund will be operationalised in early 2012.

The hundreds of students who have attended our seminars, Preparing for SPM Exam from eight secondary schools (SMK Muara Tuang, SMK Balai Ringin, SMK Tabuan Jaya, SMK Tebakang, SMK Kota Samarahan, SMK Serian, SM St Luke, SMK Lubok Antu) must have felt a sense of relief that in a way, the association had prepared them well to face the SPM exam. Good luck to them, am sure they are anxiously waiting for the result of the SPM exam.

It is our collective resolved that more is to be done in 2012. In our educational program, we will pay more attention to students sitting for public exam, i.e. PMR and SPM. This is not to say that we neglect the others. After all, educational excellence is the responsibility of all, parents include. In this context, we will continue with our outreach programme targeting the rural communities like the one we did at Ng. Spaya, a 52 door longhouse along Sg. Engkari, Lubok Antu.

We are optimistic that through unwavering commitment of the EXCO members well as all members of our association, we will succeed in our objective to impart the value of good education among our community members. In this country, we say, “Malaysia Boleh”, so be it that we in SDGA also “boleh”, and by extension of it, the Dayak also “boleh”. I have no doubt that we Dayak intellectuals have a unity of purpose and a sense of calling in wanting to see to it that we’re not laggard in our own “menua asal”. Let us then execute our own individual move and exercise collective responsibility to realise “One Voice, Common Destiny, Dayak Unity ”. The starting point is in us, SDGA.

In the meantime, be laid back for a while to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

Dr. Dusit Jaul
December 2011