Learn more about tradition from old hands, today’s generation told

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MIRI: Today’s modern generation should seek advice from those who are experts in traditional culture before making any improvisation to make it more current and contemporary.

Assistant Minister for Early Childhood Education and Family Development Rosey Yunus said such commitment was vital in ensuring that any adaptation would not affect the originality and identity of traditional works.

“There is nothing wrong to improvise or give a modern touch to certain works, for example traditional attire. However, I would like to advise not to overdo the improvisation as it could affect the originality of the traditional attire and as a result, confuse the people,” she said when officiating at ‘2015 Sarawakiana Carnival II’ at Pustaka Miri yesterday.

Rosey, who is also Bekenu assemblywoman, said educational programmes on culture and heritage should be intensified by including those from the rural areas – generally known to have a wealth of traditional legacy that not many were aware of.

In this respect, she urged for preservation work to be undertaken to ensure such heritage would not be forgotten by future generations.

“Cultural heritage is a precious asset to any society. To us, it is the identity, the symbol that represents any community.”

On the carnival, Rosey praised the organiser for its effort to raise better awareness of the need to preserve the heritage among members of the public.

“Education awareness programme on cultural preservation has been receiving wide coverage in urban areas. Perhaps, Pustaka Miri could extend a similar programme into rural areas such as Bekenu.

“I believe that such a programme would receive good response from rural folk as most of them, particularly those from the older generation, have strong foundation in cultural knowledge.

“It would be nice if we could also do this for Bekenu. Perhaps doing so would help Bekenu folk to add value to the existing promotional exercise for heritage works.”

The opening was witnessed by Pustaka Negeri Sarawak Management Board member Prof Madya Dr Shahren Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak acting chief executive officer Wan Mazli Wan Razali, Pustaka Miri regional manager Salina Zawawi and Councillor Ernest Goh.

The carnival, which ends tomorrow, is being held in conjunction with Pustaka Negeri Sarawak’s 15th anniversary as well as Miri City’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

It features many interesting activities such as a ‘Miri City Development Forum’, an exhibition on local culture and heritage, a cooking demonstration on Sarawak’s traditional dishes, a talk cum workshop on ‘sape’, a display of Sarawak’s traditional musical instruments, as well as cultural performances by children.