Uggah opens Engkilili Gawai Dayak Bazaar 2017
LUBOK ANTU: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas officially opened the Engkilili Gawai Dayak Bazaar 2017 at Skrang settlement scheme area in Engkilili yesterday.
The bazaar, which started on May 20 and ends on May 27, is the first ever held in Engkilili.
Accompanied by Lubok Antu MP Datuk William Nyallau Badak and Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa, Uggah commended the organising committee for their initiative in holding the event and hoped it would be made an annual event.
The deputy chief minister announced a sum of RM28 million for infrastructure development, including the upgrading of Ulu Skrang road and building bridges.
Uggah also announced a grant of RM20,000 for the event organising committee, on top of the RM50,000 and RM30,000 grant from Rayong and Nyallau respectively last week.
Hundreds of people, including members of Persatuan Ketua Kaum dan Masyarakat Engkilili, thronged the community hall to welcome Uggah, who is also Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development.
Thanking Uggah for his presence, Rayong said the bazaar is aimed at showcasing Dayak culture and unique local delicacies in Engkilili.
“This is also a tourism event and aimed at attracting domestic and foreign tourists,” said Rayong, who is the Gawai Bazaar Organising Committee chairman.
“The Gawai Dayak Bazaar will also be a focal point for people to catch up with one another and to remember their culture and heritage.
“It is also a platform to encourage local Dayaks to venture into business,” Rayong stressed in his welcoming speech.
A side event saw the locals seizing an opportunity to show banners supporting Nyallau as the Barisan Nasional ( BN) candidate for the next parliamentary election, which be held late this year or early next year.