SEB welcomes opportunities to collaborate with media associations

SEB cares: Sjotveit presenting duit raya to underprivileged children from Petra Jaya during the buka puasa event in Kuching, as Sulok (right) and other guests look on.

KUCHING: Power generation and management group Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) welcomes opportunities to collaborate with media associations in the state on social and training programmes.

Its chief executive Datuk Torstein Dale Sjotveit said SEB had worked well with the Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) Sarawak branch and Kuching Division Journalists Association (KDJA) since last year.

He welcomed the proposal by CJA Sarawak for SEB to conduct training courses or workshops for journalists on what it does.

“This will help journalists to learn and understand more about energy systems and how they work.

“We would also like to bring another set of journalists to visit the Murum dam,” he said at a breaking of fast jointly organised by SEB, CJA Sarawak and KDJA at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Friday night.

Sjotveit said the buka puasa dinner was one of three events in collaboration with the media associations this year.

The others are the ongoing Sarawak Energy Media Awards which will end in October and a media appreciation night slated for early December.

He also said Sarawak had a wonderful tradition of unity regardless of racial and religious backgrounds.

“Respect and unity in Sarawak are very strong. This is a good learning experience for me, coming from a culture that is learning to accept other cultures.

“The way people respect each other’s cultures and religions and enjoy one another’s company is something very strong here,” he said, adding that it was something Sarawakians needed to protect.

KDJA chairman Sulok Tawie said SEB had strengthened its ties with the media associations since the first joint breaking of fast event last year.

“This is an event where senior staff of SEB and the media can mingle, exchange notes and renew contacts with one another.

“I hope the cordial relationship would continue and be further strengthened in future,” he said.

Sjotveit later presented duit raya to some 30 underprivileged children from Petra Jaya and 21 members from the Society for Kuching Urban Poor (SKUP).