KUCHING: Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud proposes that Amanah Khairat Yayasan Budaya Melayu Sarawak organise Malay Cultural Festival (Pesta Budaya Melayu) as one of ways to preserve their culture.
Taib (centre) accompanied by Adenan (third right), Jabu (fourth left) and Awang Tengah (second right) arrives at the banquet hall to officiate at the state-level Ramah-Tamah Aidilfitri. — Photos by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
Taib (centre), Ragad (second left), Adenan (second right) and Jamilah (right) cutting the ‘pulut kuning’ cake. At left is Awang Tengah.
Taib (fourth left) lights a bamboo cannon to symbolically launch the state-level Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri as (from left) Asfia, Awang Tengah, Ragad, Adenan, Jamilah, Empiang, Jabu and Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (right) look on.
He is in fact confident that the cultural programme would receive encouraging response from the community if it were held once in every two or three years.
“I propose that Amanah Khairat come out with measures to spread their culture to the community by holding, for example, a Malay Cultural Festival.
“I believe we can involve other communities such as the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu and to come up with another festival called Bumiputera Festival in the future,” he said when officiating at the state-level Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri organised by Amanah Khairat here Wednesday.
He hoped the organisation could pursue the programme believing it could further strengthen relationship not only among the Malays but also with other races.
“With the experience of the chief minister who is its former chairman and his influence among the people of various races, we have the opportunity to show how this festival can be a success.”
He also hoped that the state government would consider adopting the programme as an effort to revive and preserve the culture and heritage of the Malay community.
Amanah Khairat chairman Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan in his welcoming speech, meanwhile told the Malay community to seize the opportunity offered by Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
He reminded Malay parents to give special attention to the subject (SCORE) so that their children could understand better the opportunities offered by SCORE even while they were still in school.
“The Malays must continue to work hard to increase their participation in the economic and business sectors to generate higher income. Amanah Khairat is active not only in Kuching but in all divisions.”
He also said the organization was planning to implement various programmes such as the building of ‘Wisma Melayu’ in Petra Jaya which would be a landmark for the Malay community in the state, monthly and year activities, research and publication.
Toh Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem and wife Puan Sri Dato Jamilah Anu, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and wife Dato Sri Empiang, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani and State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar were also present at the function.