Mawan (fifth left), other VIPs and invited guests cut the cake during the event.
SARATOK: The spirit of the 1Malaysia concept has existed among the members of Saratok community long before the concept was mooted, Saratok MP Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom pointed out.
Mawan was officiating at the closing of the Gawai Raya celebration dinner attended by more than 1,800 guests on Saturday.
“Chinese, Malays and Ibans can sit at any one table together at coffee shops and events. We all can enjoy all co-organised festivals. This is just one example where it is clear enough to show that racial harmony and unity here is very strong,” he said.
“Sharing and cooperation in organising activities by members of the Saratok community is now a culture and has become the basis of unity,” he added.
Mawan advised the community not to “disrupt racial harmony” by getting involved in petty and narrow politics and internal bickerings of groups.
“What is important is for the people to have a stable and conducive political situation so that government representatives can bring about changes and implement its programmes and policies smoothly and also to improve the people’s wellbeing and socio economic standard,” he said.
The closing of the Gawai Raya celebration at the SJKC Min Syn school hall on Saturday night was organised by community leaders of Saratok.
Among those present were Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia chairman Tunku Azwil Tunku Abdul Razak, Saratok District Officer Mohd Ikmal Abdullah and several community leaders.