Dr Rundi (second left) accompanied by (from third left) Peter, Majang and Jack, visiting one of the booths selling dried food.
BINTULU: A total of 24 operators selling various products are participating in this year’s Gawai Bazaar 2018 at Bintulu Commerce Square Mall from May 22 until 26.
The bazaar is jointly organised by Bintulu Resident’s Office and Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Bintulu office in collaboration with various local associations and government agencies.
The opening ceremony yesterday was officiated by Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
Also present were Samalaju assemblyman Majang Renggi, Bintulu Resident Jack Aman Luat and NREB controller Peter Sawal.
Peter, in his welcoming remarks, said the bazaar was meant to give the Dayak community here a better platform to showcase and promote their handicrafts and other products, including sharing the uniqueness of their traditional foods and cuisines.
“This Gawai Bazaar 2018 is one of the many activities lined up in conjunction with the state-level Gawai Dayak celebration to be held in Kuching,” he said.
He, therefore, called on all people in Bintulu regardless of their race and religion to come and support the local entrepreneurs.
Apart from the trade fair of various dried and wet products, the Gawai bazaar, he added, will also showcase other interesting activities, among them the children colouring contest, cultural performances, automotive exhibition and performances by two local artistes Hailey and Mark Benet and local buskers.
Meanwhile, Dr Rundi hoped local entrepreneurs would have the opportunity to be actively involved in promoting their products in the malls and not just at their longhouses.
“This is a positive change of mindset among our Dayak community to get involved and actively participate in trading activities,” he said.
Gawai Dayak, he pointed out, is not only about eating and drinking but should be taken as an opportunity for them to display and promote the uniqueness of their culture and products.
“Apart from dinner, now we have this Gawai bazaar and this is the way forward,” said the Kemena assemblyman.
He said the celebration of Gawai Dayak should be viewed from a wider perspective, citing the Gawai bazaar as one way to mark the festival.
“If before we celebrated Gawai in the longhouses only, today we have it in the mall and this is a transformation in our society – to introduce new culture that could benefit our people especially our small entrepreneurs,” Dr Rundi said.