(From left) Ahmad Denney, Petrus, Henry, Baru and others harvest padi to mark the official opening of the Irau Aco Lun Bawang Festival.
LAWAS: The Lun Bawang community must preserve their culture and tradition to be passed on to the new generation.
“It is important that the culture and tradition that have been practised for generations be maintained.
“Irau Aco Festival (themed ‘Ayu Inul Pupuh Tau’) is an important platform for us to gather in the name of culture and celebrate the culture that reflects our identity,” said Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong when officiating at the Irau Aco Lun Bawang here yesterday.
Also present were Selangau MP and Ba Kelalan asemblyman Baru Bian, Limbang Resident Ahmad Denney Ahmad Fauzi, Sarawak Lun Bawang president (PLBS) Ipoi Datan, Limbang District Council secretary Zulkipli Sahari and chairman of PLBS Youth Branch cum organising chairman of the festival Petrus Lasong.
Henry, who is also PLBS patron, added this year’s Irau Aco Festival was more lively with more visitors and cultural events besides participation from other parts of Borneo. “I am very proud to see the excitement with the improvement in performances and events this year,” he said.
He added that the increase in participation was the result of close collaboration with associations from Sabah, Brunei and Indonesia.
Henry urged the Lun Bawang community to continue supporting each other so their unique culture in terms of customs and traditions, sports and traditional music continue to be showcased to other communities.
Meanwhile, he revealed that the state government has allocated RM1 million to PBLS to purchase a shoplot in Lawas as its office. Earlier, patron of PLBS Baru said the rich cultural heritage encompassing culture, religion and the origin of Lun Bawang should be preserved for the younger generation.
“The strength in the rich cultural heritage of the Lun Bawang showcased at the Irau Aco festival should be nurtured and handed down to the younger generation,” he said.
The Irau Aco Festival which signified appreciation for a bountiful harvest of padi and to pray for blessing of the sustenance earned, had the Lun Bawang community turning up in their traditional costumes.
Earlier Henry announced a government grant of RM30,000 for the festival while Baru donated RM10,000 towards the event.