Penguang sounds a gong to launch the classes. From third left are Miri District Officer Abdul Aziz Mohammad Yusuf, association president Serawa Budol, and Miri Mayor Adam Yii.
MIRI: Organisers of Dayak events have been called on to ensure there are cultural performances included in the programme.
Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil said some Dayak events of late have featured non-cultural performances such as poco-poco.
“I’m not against poco-poco. I know this is a modern era, but please do not forget our cultural and lingual identity,” he said when launching the Dayak Association Miri’s cultural classes yesterday.
He said Dayak children should be exposed and educated about their own culture from a young age through cultural-based activities or competitions.
Penguang noted that some of the betabuh (drums) musicians at yesterday’s event were senior citizens and if younger members are not trained, it would be difficult to find replacements in the future.
“We really should promote this more. For example, like in my small kampung, I will organise betabuh (drumming) competition among children. It does not matter whether they can do it or not, but we must expose them early.
“I think you can do the same thing here. Perhaps have one section for the small kids because they are the ones who will succeed us,” he said.
He pledged an RM10,000 grant for the association’s activities.
“I hope you can extend
your activities beyond Miri, including to Marudi, so that more people can benefit from them,” he said.
The cultural classes, organised in collaboration with the Industrial Training Institute, will begin with a ngajat class tomorrow (Feb 4), which will run until April 4.
A total of 114 children and adults, including non-Dayaks, have registered for the class.
Other classes under the programme are betabuh on March 4-29, mat weaving on March 2-31, basket weaving on March 2-31, and Sugu Tinggi (headdress) on April 2-30.