IN ONE ACCORD: Taib beats a traditional Bidayuh drum to launch Redeems Gawai Carnival 2012.
BAU: Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has called for more culture-related activities to be organised as such initiatives can help strengthen ties between the people and leaders.
Launching Redeems Gawai Carnival 2012 here on Saturday, the chief minister observed that cultural celebrations not only encouraged closer interactions among the people, but also create greater awareness among the people of their cultures.
This awareness and understanding, he stressed, would make the people become more aware of the legacies they had inherited from their forefathers.
“Gawai is a time where the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu communities open their cultural doors to non-Dayaks. The Gawai Dayak celebration is now placed on par with other celebrations such as Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri. It is the time for us to celebrate, mix around, and to get to know one another better.
“Try to find an excuse to get all the communities to meet. You will earn greater respect from other communities for the constructive roles that you have played in promoting unity.
“Racial solidarity is meaningful in the development of the economy, culture and, most importantly, politics.”
Among the 1,500 strong crowd were Taib’s wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, Redeems president Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie, Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, and Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.
Other dignitaries included State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar and Redeems life president Datuk Wilfred Rata Nissom.
On Redeems, Taib noted that since coming into being 15 years ago to highlight various cultural aspects of the community, it had managed to attract all sorts of visitors. In fact, it had also become a place of congregation for the local communities.
“Redeems Gawai Carnival has become a serious and important effort to unite the people. It attracts all Bidayuh from Jagoi, Lundu, Serian and Bengoh to come and share activities together.”
On the Bidayuh community, Taib said it had shown to be capable of gaining a position of respect in the state’s multiracial society. The Bidayuh community have excelled in education, and have shown to be ever ready to participate in any activity which could contribute to the state’s development, he added.
“You come from the same tree. It is important that when the branches grow up from that same tree, you will be able to retain a lot of the rich nutrition that the tree had absorbed from the common soil and grow quite successfully and happily.
“Therefore, I am very happy to see that people from Serian, Lundu, Bengoh and other areas are attracted by the cultural activities here. This is a sign that the Bidayuh leaders have realised the importance of preserving unity among their younger generation.”