Kejaman community urged to be united

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Liwan (fourth left) receives a memento from Ekot as Jackson (third left) and others look on.

BELAGA: The Kejaman ethnic community needs to close ranks in order to protect, preserve and promote its unique culture and heritage for the future generation.

Belaga assemblyman Datuk Liwan Lagang said this is because no one else can promote all these unique values and heritage except the Kejaman community itself.

The Assistant Minister of Water Supply said this when officiating at the closing of Kejaman Ethnic Sports and Cultural Carnival 2018 at Belaga multi-purpose hall on Sunday night.

The carnival was organised by Persatuan Bangsa Kejaman Sarawak (PBKS).

“I believe from this carnival, PBKS can promote their cultural heritage to the younger generation and apart from that it can be a platform of unity for the Kejaman ethnic group,” said Liwan.

He also commended the Kejaman women for the mu’a poetry recital earlier.

A woman with her ‘selingut’ blowing performance which mesmerised the audience.

“This kind of singing is an art which is so special because it requires individual creativity.

“Sadly, not many have this mu’a singing skill and many of our Kejaman, Sekapan and Lahanan are unaware of this,” he added.

He, therefore, urged PBKS to take this trait as an opportunity to teach, educate and further promote their heritage so that it can be inherited by the young people.

Liwan also called on the Kejaman community to give their strong support to PBKS, saying without unity the association will not be able to achieve its objectives in representing them.

During the event, Liwan announced a grant of RM10,000 for PBKS to carry out its activities.

Earlier, PBKS chairman Ekot Ejui thanked the main committee and the community at large for the strong support and cooperation given during the carnival.

He was happy to note that many sports and cultural activities had been successfully executed such as nyeput, main ka’cing, bei galung gwai, ngati wai, muwng kazeu langut, jalan bau arauk, bei lecung, main anap, katin avit jala, pejab upa’ wai, ngucup ineuk, suwei, kesut, gadaeng taweak, ngalagei gan, lalu, mu’a, medeak tuwng, medeak biduk, selingut, sape and ngajat.

Also present were political secretary to the chief minister Michael Mujah Lihan, Temenggong Ajang, Pemanca Unak Akah, Penghulu Jackson Kubang, Penghulu Awang Robat, Penghulu Luhat Anyup, Kapitan Teo Hee Tong and Maren Uma Sylvia Senah Lasah.