Adenan, flanked by Awang Tengah and Paulus (right), performing a traditional Bisaya ritual before the start of the Babulang Festival.
BATU DANAU: Incumbent assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang is likely to be retained as the Barisan Nasional (BN)’s pick for this state constituency in the next state election, if hints dropped by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem are anything to go by.
Speaking at ‘Babulang Festival 2015’ at Kampung Batu Danau here yesterday, Adenan said: “In my opinion, he (Paulus) should be re-nominated, but let’s wait till the elections.”
The chief minister, who is also state BN chairman and PBB president, also stated his stand on the BN Plus formula, which he said was aimed at reducing divisive politics.
The formula was endorsed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during a BN rally held in Kuching on Wednesday.
The split within SUPP and SPDP, which resulted in almost all their assemblymen quitting, had led to the setup of United People’s Party (UPP) and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).
At the function yesterday, Adenan announced the approval of allocations worth RM500,000 to Sarawak Bisaya Association – comprising RM300,000 for its Bisaya Cultural Centre, RM100,000 for its building and another RM100,000 for its activities – as well as RM30,000 in annual grant to the organising committee of the festival.
The chief minister commended the community on their commitment in preserving their cultural heritage through the holding of the Babulang Festival.
“Although you are a minority among all ethnic groups in Sarawak, you should be proud that you are members of a cultured and educated community,” he said.
On the request to boost buffalo-rearing activities in Limbang, Adenan said he would look into the matter and engage the Agriculture Department, adding that he agreed with Paulus on such need in view of the implementation of a new Native Customary Reserve (NCR) land initiative here.
“It would be unthinkable to have Babulang Festival losing its lustre because it could no longer hold buffalo races, which are so synonymous with the Bisaya community,” he quipped.
Earlier on, Miri Resident Antonio Kahti Galis – who is also Sarawak Bisaya Association president – thanked Adenan for honouring the community by coming to officiate at the festival, despite having to rush from Mukah after attending the state-level birthday celebration of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“You walk the talk, that you are the chief minister for all,” he said.
Antonio said this year’s festival had just been inducted onto the national “Calendar of Events’ by the federal Tourism and Culture Ministry.
“We look forward towards further improving this event, with more economic spin-offs coming from the local cottage industry and homestay programmes.”
The function yesterday was also attended by Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Development) Datuk Mohd Naroden
Majais, Limbang MP Hasbi Habibolah, Bukit Kota assemblymen Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail and state Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) controller Peter Sawal, who is vice president of Sarawak Bisaya Association.
A buffalo race is among the highlights of the annual festival.