Jamit (ninth left), Nanta (11th left) and Nyabong (14th left) in a group photo with members of the organising committee and other guests.
KAPIT: The Dayaks should preserve their cultures, traditions and practices which have become their identity.
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi gave this advice when officiating at the ‘Majlis Pengerami 2017 Malam Ngiling Bidai Gawai Dayak’ on Sunday evening.
The Gawai closing ceremony was hosted by Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) Sungai Amang Ulu Unit comprising Rumah Richard Engking and Datai Mas.
Among the some 300 people attending the ceremony, which was held at Sri Baleh VIP Guesthouse were Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang, Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit Unyat and political secretaries to the chief minister Tapah Ata, Maurice
Giri and Nicholas Kudi Jantai, Kapit Resident Joseph Belayong, Kapit District Officer Elvis Didit, Bukit Mabong District Officer Douglas Pungga and Kapit police chief DSP Freddy Bian.
“Dayak costumes, cultures, traditions and practices are our identity. We must always safeguard them. Others are looking at us; what we do and how we act would reflect our reputation in the eyes of others. Look after our image,” Nanta, who is Kapit MP, said.
At the function, the deputy minister announced government grants totalling RM20,000 for Sungai Amang Ulu SIDS – RM10,000 from himself and RM5,000 each from Jamit and Nyabong.
Meanwhile, Helen Manjan from SIDS Rumah Richard Engking who spoke on behalf of the organising committee, requested the elected representatives to financially help them in running their activities.
“We have formed the SIDS committees at Sungai Amang Ulu comprising Rumah Richard Engking and Datai Mas (Rumah Steward Saba). We need financial assistance from the elected people’s representatives to start the ball rolling. We need the money to purchase raw materials for weaving of traditional textiles such as ‘pua kumbu’ by our members,” said Helen, who is a teacher at SMK Kapit.
Among the evening’s activities were ‘miring’ and ‘bebiau’, rolling of the mat, ‘ngajat’ performance, poco-poco and fund-raising through sales of ‘Air Tuah’.