SERIAN: The Bidayuhs have been urged to identify and consider themselves as only one people in the spirit of ‘1Bidayuh’.
SILAMAT BIGAWAI: Manyin ( left) welcomes the crowd at the start of the Gawai Dayak dinner while Bayoi (right) looks on .
Since the beginning of time, Bidayuhs have always identified or acknowledged one another based on villages or dialects, but Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong felt the practice should stop.
“All this while we always introduce ourselves as Bidayuh Bau, Lundu, Serian or even Bidayuh Padawan because of our various dialects but I urge all Bidayuhs now to recognise and call each other with one entity. Identify ourselves only as Bidayuh – 1Bidayuh,” he said when gracing Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) Serian Branch Gawai Dinner 2010 on Saturday night.
Manyin added that true to the spirit of 1Malaysia, dialects had never been a problem or never was it ever a communication barrier between the Bidayuhs because of the community’s strong unity here.
Therefore, he stated that it did not make sense anymore to identify oneself differently especially if one were of the same race.
“Why are we called Bidayuh? It is because of the word ‘budaya’ (culture). We are a cultured community and this is the identity we should be proud of. Not because of our difference in languages and areas of living. Even the Chinese identify themselves only as Chinese and not according to their difference in ethnicity,” he asserted.
Manyin reminded that Bidayuhs should be proud of their accomplishments. The race has improved tremendously in its community development and played an important part in contributing to the country’s development.
“We must be proud that the country has recognised our contribution especially when we are the minority. Proof lies in the fact that we have two deputy ministers in the federal government in the persons of Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit (Tourism) and Datuk Richard Riot Jaem (Foreign), one minister in the state being myself and one assistant minister in Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie (Environment),” he said.
Also speaking at the dinner, DBNA president Ik Pahon Joyik suggested that Gawai celebrations such as during that night be turned into a good tourism product as the state boasted many unique cultures which could be promoted.
He added that organisers could sell tickets or tables to tourists for the dinner, provide cultural shows in the programme and serve local delicacies. He even mentioned that organisers could ferry tourists to the event or hire tour operators.
Seeing that many guests were wearing their traditional attire, Ik Pahon highlighted that it was very important for every Bidayuh to preserve the community’s culture and its identity.
“Most importantly, we must not be shy to speak our language and get involved in cultural activities. We must ensure that our Bidayuh community would always be relevant in today’s world of globalisation and that our culture would not vanish through time,” he said.
The event, held at Dewan Masyarakat Serian, saw guests being entertained with a cultural show performed by ‘Persatuan Pertubuhan Kebudayaan Katolik Dayak’ with local band Speedway providing music entertainment throughout the night.
Later on, about 20 students who excelled in their 2009 Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR), Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR), Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) examinations were rewarded with a RM100 incentive each.
About 500 people including Kedup assemblyman Frederick Bayoi Manggie, Bidayuh Graduates Association president and also State ICT director William Patrick Nyigor and political secretary to the Chief Minister John David Nyauh attended the dinner.
DBNA Serian branch chairman Sinde Muling was the organising chairman.