NGOs renew call for Gawai, Kaamatan to be made national public holidays

KUCHING: A group of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) has called upon the federal government to declare Gawai Dayak and Pesta Kaamatan national public holidays.

The NGOs propose for the government to declare May 31 a national public holiday for Kaamatan, and June 1 for Gawai Dayak.

Echoing the principles of ‘Malaysia Madani’ championed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Unity Government, the NGOs say the celebrations are vital to the Dayak and Kadazan-Dusun communities of East Malaysia.

“Despite their importance, these significant cultural days have yet to be declared national holidays since the formation of Malaysia in 1963,” the NGOs said in a joint statement.

The organisations said elected representatives from Sabah and Sarawak in Parliament had not attempted to advocate for the festivals to be made national public holidays.

According to them, recognising the two dates as national holidays would not only strengthen national unity and cultural understanding, but also help Sarawakians and Sabahan working in Peninsular Malaysia to return to their respective states to celebrate.

“When looking at the national calendar and the planning of the federal government departments, they often do not take into account the celebrations, the existence, or the needs of government employees who come from Sabah and Sarawak,” said the NGOs.

“Declaring national public holidays for the two harvest festivals will also help recognise the contributions of Sarawak and Sabah, which were signatories to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“The position of Sabah and Sarawak in the Federation of Malaysia is unique.

“These two states helped establish the nation of Malaysia. Therefore, we hope that the action in question would be one of the measures to respect the rights of the people of Sarawak and Sabah as enshrined in the MA63.

“We urge the new administration to recognise these cultural celebrations as national holidays, demonstrating their commitment to fostering unity among Malaysians.”

The statement was signed by Sarawak Indigenous Intellectual Association (Perantis) founder and advisor Wellie Henry Majang, legal advisor Paul Raja, and deputy president Ricky Sani; Terabai Menua Association (TM) president Wilfred Nissem; and Persatuan Masyarakat Salako dan Rara Sarawak (Perasa) president Robert Umping.

In January last year, TM, Perasa, and six other NGOs had also called for Gawai Dayak and Kaamatan to be declared national public holidays.

In a separate statement, Bung Bratak Heritage Association (BBHA) chairman Dato Peter Minos said the recognition of these two harvest festivals as national public holidays would have significant meaning for the Dayak and Kadazan-Dusun communities in Malaysia.

“As Malaysians, both the Dayaks and KadazanDusuns have played their part in national development. Many had died in defence of Malaysia.

“The Dayaks are a sizeable group in Sarawak. It is the same of the Kadazan-Dusuns in Sabah.

“If Sarawak government can recognise Gawai Dayak as a state public holiday, why cannot the federal government?

“The same in Sabah for Kaamatan. Hopefully, the federal government would decide before this year ends,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Talking as chairman of a Dayak historical and cultural body, Minos said he fully supported the call made by these NGOs, also believing that the ‘whole Dayak community of Sarawak and KadazanDusun of Sabah would also fully support the move’.

On Gawai Dayak, Minos said it should have already been recognised as national holiday in 1963 when Malaysia was formed.

“The non-Dayaks may not realise it, that the Dayaks want to be recognised and acknowledged fully as Malaysians. They are dismayed that till now they are not that recognised as Gawai Dayak is not a national holiday yet.

“The Gawai Dayak is something great to the Dayaks. It is part of their lives, part of their history, heritage and culture. And it is their pride and dignity, as well as their identity.”