SEDC chairman, wife given Kelabit names, signifying honour from community
Isaac puts the Kelabit traditional vest, 'Sapa Arit', on Abdul Aziz, after the presentation of Kelabit name certificate to the latter, witnessed by Nur Ashima (right) and others on stage.
KUCHING (June 22): The Rurum Kelabit Sarawak (RKS) held a private ceremony today to officially declare the Kelabit name for Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain.
According to RKS president Dato Isaac Lugun @ Maran Tadun, the formal conferment of the traditional Kelabit name 'Raja Buren', was made in recognition of Abdul Aziz's longstanding support for, and connection to, the Kelabit community.
In Kelabit tongue, 'Raja' means 'king' and 'Buren' means praiseworthy.
Moreover, Abdul Aziz's wife Puan Sri Datin Amar Nur Ashima Aziz was also presented with the certificate bearing her Kelabit name, 'Sinah Raja Buren' – acknowledging her grace, strength, and support as a partner in service, in keeping with the tradition of recognising both individuals in such a conferment.
'The conferment of a Kelabit name is a time-honoured tradition that reflects the community's respect and recognition for individuals who have maintained meaningful ties with the Kelabit people, and who are regarded as embodying the spirit of community, wisdom, and service — qualities exemplified by 'Tan Sri Raja Buren' (Abdul Aziz) and 'Sinah Raja Buren' (Nur Ashima).
'This gesture reflects the Kelabit community's appreciation of individuals who have stood in solidarity with us over the years,' explained Isaac.
Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz, in his speech, said he was deeply moved by the honour accorded upon him by the Kelabit community.
'The name 'Raja Buren' will be with me, guide me, and keep me anchored in this meaningful relationship.
'It is also a promise that I will continue to support, to uphold, and honour the aspirations of the Kelabit people in any way I can,' he said.
Abdul Aziz (seventh right) and Nur Ashima (seventh left) in a group photo with Isaac (fourth right) and other guests, including Dr Chan (sixth right) and Lorna (fifth right), taken after the ceremony.
The event was also attended by former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and wife Dato Lorna Enan Muloon.
The programme included a reflection on the significance of the Kelabit name by RKS advisor Datu Ose Murang @ Tadun Bala, and remarks by Pemanca Caleena Lallang Sakai @ Ribed Inan, who spoke on behalf of the community.
In his speech, Ose spoke about an occasion in 2006 when Abdul Aziz, who was then the state secretary, visited Bario to officiate at several events including a dialogue with the Kelabit community there.
'During that visit, he (Abdul Aziz) also climbed up the 2,424m Mount Murud, the highest mountain in Sarawak,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
MLKN: Negative perception of National Service must be changed
PEKAN: Efforts must be made to counter the negative perception of the National Service Training Programme (PLKN), and parents have a role to play in promoting their children's involvement, said Jeneral (Rtd) Tan Sri Dr Abdul Aziz Zainal. The National Service Training Council (MLKN) chairman said those who join the programme would benefit in many ways, particularly in shaping a strong personal identity. In addition, he said the programme offers added value to trainees as it includes basic military training while assuring parents that their children's welfare would be well taken care of throughout the 45-day period. 'All their needs are taken care of throughout the programme, with RM3,150 allocated per trainee, not including travel expenses. I hope parents will help raise awareness and encourage their children. PLKN seeks to guide them in the right direction. 'Those who do not want to join may still be affected by past stigma. Forget the past; the current programme brings benefits and has been improved for the better,' he said at a press conference after the PLKN 3.0 Series 2/2025 Passing-Out Parade yesterday, Bernama reported. Abdul Aziz said more than RM400mil had been allocated to make the programme a success, including improvements to camp facilities to ensure a more comfortable training environment for the trainees. A total of 257 male trainees completed the training, which began on May 11 at the 505th Territorial Army Regiment Camp here, with Bartholomew Thierry Timothy from Papar, Sabah, named the best trainee. For Timothy, 18, being away from his family for 45 days proved worthwhile when he was selected as the best trainee, adding that PLKN had instilled discipline and punctuality in him. The third of four siblings, who will pursue a foundation in science at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), said the nationalism module and basic military training had contributed to building his identity as a quality Malaysian with a more positive outlook. 'It's an honour to be chosen as the best trainee. In the beginning, I had trouble adjusting, especially with punctuality, but I've improved and become a more confident person,' he said. Zarimi Isa, 50, a former soldier and father of trainee Muhammad Hakim, 20, said parents should not hesitate to send their children for the programme, which he described as highly beneficial. 'Don't listen to the negative comments about PLKN. It's a good programme for the younger generation, and with the training lasting just 45 days, I think it's still relevant,' said the father of five.
Barnama
5 days ago
- Barnama
Efforts Must Be Made To Change Public Perception Of PLKN
PEKAN, June 24 (Bernama) -- Efforts must be made to counter the negative perception of the National Service Training Programme (PLKN), and parents have a role to play in promoting their children's involvement, said National Service Training Council (MLKN) chairman General (Rtd) Tan Sri Dr Abdul Aziz Zainal. He said that those who joined the programme would benefit in many ways, particularly in helping them shape a strong personal identity. In addition, Abdul Aziz said the programme offered added value to trainees, as it included basic military training, while assuring parents that their children's welfare would be well taken care of throughout the 45-day period. 'All their needs were taken care of throughout the programme, with RM3,150 allocated per trainee, not including travel expenses. I hope parents will help raise awareness and encourage their children. PLKN seeks to guide them in the right direction. 'Those who do not want to join may still be affected by past stigma. Forget the past; the current programme brings benefits and has been improved for the better,' he said at a press conference after the PLKN 3.0 Series 2/2025 Passing-Out Parade here today. A total of 257 male trainees completed the training, which began on May 11 at the 505th Territorial Army Regiment Camp here, with Bartholomew Thierry Timothy from Papar, Sabah, named the best trainee. Abdul Aziz further said more than RM400 million had been allocated to make the programme a success, including improvements to camp facilities to ensure a more comfortable training environment for the trainees. For Bartholomew Thierry, 18, being away from his family for 45 days proved worthwhile when he was selected as the best trainee, adding that PLKN had instilled discipline and punctuality in him. The third of four siblings who will pursue a foundation in science at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), said the nationalism module and basic military training had contributed to building his identity as a quality Malaysian with a more positive outlook.
Borneo Post
22-06-2025
- Borneo Post
SEDC chairman, wife given Kelabit names, signifying honour from community
Isaac puts the Kelabit traditional vest, 'Sapa Arit', on Abdul Aziz, after the presentation of Kelabit name certificate to the latter, witnessed by Nur Ashima (right) and others on stage. KUCHING (June 22): The Rurum Kelabit Sarawak (RKS) held a private ceremony today to officially declare the Kelabit name for Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain. According to RKS president Dato Isaac Lugun @ Maran Tadun, the formal conferment of the traditional Kelabit name 'Raja Buren', was made in recognition of Abdul Aziz's longstanding support for, and connection to, the Kelabit community. In Kelabit tongue, 'Raja' means 'king' and 'Buren' means praiseworthy. Moreover, Abdul Aziz's wife Puan Sri Datin Amar Nur Ashima Aziz was also presented with the certificate bearing her Kelabit name, 'Sinah Raja Buren' – acknowledging her grace, strength, and support as a partner in service, in keeping with the tradition of recognising both individuals in such a conferment. 'The conferment of a Kelabit name is a time-honoured tradition that reflects the community's respect and recognition for individuals who have maintained meaningful ties with the Kelabit people, and who are regarded as embodying the spirit of community, wisdom, and service — qualities exemplified by 'Tan Sri Raja Buren' (Abdul Aziz) and 'Sinah Raja Buren' (Nur Ashima). 'This gesture reflects the Kelabit community's appreciation of individuals who have stood in solidarity with us over the years,' explained Isaac. Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz, in his speech, said he was deeply moved by the honour accorded upon him by the Kelabit community. 'The name 'Raja Buren' will be with me, guide me, and keep me anchored in this meaningful relationship. 'It is also a promise that I will continue to support, to uphold, and honour the aspirations of the Kelabit people in any way I can,' he said. Abdul Aziz (seventh right) and Nur Ashima (seventh left) in a group photo with Isaac (fourth right) and other guests, including Dr Chan (sixth right) and Lorna (fifth right), taken after the ceremony. The event was also attended by former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and wife Dato Lorna Enan Muloon. The programme included a reflection on the significance of the Kelabit name by RKS advisor Datu Ose Murang @ Tadun Bala, and remarks by Pemanca Caleena Lallang Sakai @ Ribed Inan, who spoke on behalf of the community. In his speech, Ose spoke about an occasion in 2006 when Abdul Aziz, who was then the state secretary, visited Bario to officiate at several events including a dialogue with the Kelabit community there. 'During that visit, he (Abdul Aziz) also climbed up the 2,424m Mount Murud, the highest mountain in Sarawak,' he said.
