Awang Tengah (seventh right) with the Lawas Dragon Boat Race team, together with Lawas' Member of Parliament, Datuk Henry Sum Agong (back row, sixth left). Photo: UKAS

LAWAS: Lawas is set to emerge as a key player in northern Sarawak’s development landscape, following a series of impactful announcements by the Sarawak Government to enhance education access and upgrade critical infrastructure in the region.

At the official launch of the ‘Beyond Waves & Dance Rhythms Festival 2025’ at the Lawas Waterfront on Saturday, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan unveiled in his speech a range of initiatives aimed at empowering rural communities and strengthening Lawas’ role in driving economic progress.

Among the highlights, he revealed that beginning next year, Sarawakian students who further their studies at state-owned universities will no longer need to pay tuition fees, as the cost will be fully borne by the state government.

“We want our children, including those from Lawas, to have access to the best possible education without the weight of financial hardship. Education and skills are the keys to advancement,” he said.

Awang Tengah also announced plans for a new MARA Junior Science College (MRSM) here, a nearly completed CENTEXS skills centre, and upgrades to roads, bridges, the airport, a deep-sea port, as well as water, electricity and communication systems.

“Even though we are in the northern region, we will not be left behind. With abundant natural resources and a strong spirit of unity, Lawas has the potential to move far ahead,” he emphasised.

The festival’s main attractions included vibrant dragon boat races, cultural dance showcases, and a bustling local food fair, which offered a platform for small traders and food entrepreneurs to promote their products and boost the local economy.

In conjunction with the festival, Awang Tengah also presented prizes to the winners of the ‘Lawas Dragon Boat Race 2025’, with the Landas Azam Kasihnya Warisan team emerging as champions and taking home RM5,000 and a trophy.

Organised by the Lawas Chinese Community Welfare, Culture and Expedition Association, the festival was hailed as a unifying celebration of heritage, economic empowerment, and community pride.