KUCHING: Pasir Panjang village is set to benefit from a newly constructed administrative building that will house the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) office and a library aimed at promoting a reading culture among the youth.
Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said the library is intended to replace the non-operational facility in Pasir Pandak, which has been in disuse for a decade.
“We have constructed a new building in Pasir Panjang village, next to Pasir Pandak village. We have informed the village heads that half of it will be dedicated to a library.
“The building is ready, equipped with utilities such as electricity and water,” he explained during the ‘Reading with Leaders Programme’ at SK Pasir Pandak here today (Dec 7).
“We only request the Board of Directors to fill the library shelves with books that can revive the village library in Pasir Pandak and Pasir Panjang, providing a valuable resource for the local children.”
Speaking on the importance of reading habits, Dr Abdul Rahman, who is also the Pantai Damai assemblyman, stressed that fostering such habits is a collective effort involving both schools and households.
He urged parents to establish dedicated reading corners at home, equipped with a variety of books, to inspire a love for reading among children.
“Parents must lead by example and read during their downtime. Schools, in turn, should maintain updated libraries to captivate students’ interest in reading through book donations or fundraising.”
The ‘Reading with Leaders Programme’ event also saw the presence of Kuching North City Hall mayor Hilmy Othman and SK Pasir Pandak headmaster Jesi Jamri.
