Awang Tengah receives a memento from Mahmud (fifth right), witnessed by Dayang Morliah (second left), Dr Abdul Rahman (fourth right) and others.
KUCHING: The Dangsanak Limbang-Kuching Welfare Association will have its ‘Sulap Dangsanak One-Stop Centre’ up and running in one or two months’ time, says chairman Mahmud Mohd Nor.
According to him, the centre will serve as a platform for members to promote and market their products and services.
The property, which is owned by Mahmud, is located at Taman Aichi, near Kampung Gita at Jalan Matang here, and it has just undergone some renovations.
“The Sulap Dangsanak will operate soon and it will also be used to coordinate activities for members.
“It also serves as a transit accommodation for those from Limbang and Lawas who come to seek medical treatment here.
“The premises can also be used by members of Persatuan Anak Jati Lawas to hold their meetings,” he said when met at the association’s ‘Majlis Berdudun Aidilfitri’ at Penview Convention Centre here yesterday.
In the Kedayan-Malay language, ‘dangsanak’ means ‘relatives’ or ‘clan’, while ‘sulap’ means ‘house’.
The association serves as an umbrella body not only for the Kedayan-Malay community in Kuching, but also a small number of those hailing from the Limbang and Lawas districts.
Adding on, Mahmud also voiced out the proposed setting up of ‘Kampung Dangsanak Johari’, a housing estate for the Kedayan-Malay community here.
“Apart from being a neighbourhood, this ‘kampung’ (village) would also help to keep the community’s culture and heritage alive.
“It would enable our younger generation to learn and practise many Kedayan-Malay traditions, including the preparation of dishes like the ‘kelupis’ (glutinous rice cooked in the leaves of the ‘licuala’ plant).
According to Mahmud, 600 members have applied for Kampung Dangsanak – those who have yet to do so should contact the association’s secretariat.
The Kampung Dangsanak proposal was earlier brought to the attention of Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who together with his wife Datuk Dayang Morliah Awang Daud attended the event as its guests-of-honour.
In his remarks, Awang Tengah said he had yet to receive the proposal from the association.
“If I’ve received (the proposal), we would look into it.”
On Sulap Dangsanak, the deputy chief minister commended Mahmud for voluntarily having his house be turned into the centre.
Earlier in his speech, Awang Tengah said the community should emulate the Chinese, especially the Foochows, who would always help one another so that everyone would become successful.
He advised them against following the ‘crab culture’ – referring to those out to pull down those wanting to succeed.
“The successful Foochows will help one another to become successful – this is how they are able to move forward, and this is what we should have and emulate upon.
“We should have the attitude; we support the successful ones, those who are about to succeed, we (also) have their backs. We have the potential to be successful.”
Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, who is the association’s advisor, was also present.