Gawai a celebration of unity
Sarawak CM: Differences in religion and race not a barrier for us to live as one.
KUCHING: Gawai Dayak, the harvest festival celebrated by Sarawak’s Dayak communities, has become a symbol of unity and harmony among the state’s multiracial people, says Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The Chief Minister said the celebration of Gawai is an integral part of Dayak custom and tradition, marking the end of the harvest season while looking forward to a promising year.
“But more importantly, Gawai Dayak has grown beyond a mere harvest celebration into a force of unity and a symbol of aspiration and hope in a harmonious and free Sarawak,” he said in his Gawai message.
Abang Johari said the leaders and people of different races in Sarawak have always shown affection and closeness with each other even before independence through the formation of Malaysia.
He recalled how the late Iban paramount chief Tun Jugah Barieng would greet his late father Tun Abang Openg as menyadi (Iban for brother).
“Even today some of us still greet each other as menyadi and we are proud that Sarawakians are able to live as brothers and sisters.
“Differences in religion and race are no barriers for us to live as one harmonious people in Sarawak and the difference in our political beliefs should not create a wall between us,” he said.
Referring to the general election results which saw Pakatan Harapan take over the Federal Government, Abang Johari said the people had spoken and the Barisan Nasional- led state government wished the new administration in Putrajaya the best in governing the nation.
“I wish to reiterate that being an Opposition state does not hinder the state government from working with the Federal Government based on the Constitution in the interest of the people of Sarawak and Malaysia,” he added.
Abang Johari also noted that Dayak leaders are bringing back a Gawai procession to showcase Dayak culture and tradition on June 22.
The parade, which was last held in 1994, will be a display of Dayak traditional costumes, music and dances along a 1.5km route ending at the Kuching Waterfront.
“I hope our Dayak friends from all over Sarawak will come to Kuching to witness this occasion,” he said.
In Miri, motorists in balik kampung rush for Gawai Dayak were hit by flash floods at Kampung Tubau in Bintulu district.
Parts of the village and linked roads were inundated by up to 1.5m at 11am yesterday, said the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department.