This post could have been seen as outdated but comments by Tan Sri William Mawan, the minister of social development, and Dr John Brian, the SDNU (Sarawak Dayak National Union) deputy President the last 48 hours, with regards to several quarters, mostly government initiated or funded, celebrating the ngiling tikai (closing of the Gawai) well after June aroused my interest and thus should be lauded.
Ideally, the Ngiling Tikai should be held by the 15th of June, or,at the latest, by end of June. To celebrate the Ngiling Tikai well into the month of July is overstretching and effectively diluting its significance.
BUT, what about celebrating the Gawai Dayak well into the month of July? More so if it is touted as the Gawai National Celebration? The excuse that invited VVIP guests could not make it to Penom, Betong before July to join the celebration was just plain lame excuse!
Is there noboby among the Dayak Ministers willing to stand up and tell the Ministry of Rais Yatim that it is not suitable to have the Gawai Dayak celebrated too far later than the 1st of June? Worst still, stretching it to nearly mid July? The National Gawai celebration in Penom, Betong was held, embarrassingly on the 11th July,2011! All Dayak Ministers and legislators kept mum,and worst still, nearly all turned up for the event at the Penom longhouse!
Borneo Warrior texted more than 20 Dayak and non Dayak legislators and Ministers highlighting this issue.Only Yb Datuk Joseph Salang,( the Deputy Minister of Rais Yatim ministry), Yb Datuk Peter Nansian and Yb Karim Hamzah replied. Salang said he was aware of it and was telling his officers to have an earlier date. Yb Peter Nansian noted with thanks. My dear friend Karim told me it was too petty and should not be too dramatically highlighted.
Dayak politicians should stood their grounds and advised their colleagues the rationale and significance of our tradition and culture and not to cheerfully and blindly politicised the ceremony to the whims and fancies of the unknowings.
Can we imagine our Chinese brothers celebrating chap goh meh later, much later than the stipulated period after the Chinese New Year?
Penom is the longhouse of Yb Datuk Uggah, a federal cabinet minister.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
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Training in jungle warfare as a young officer, to defend my country and my state of Sarawak
And in sports, among others, I played rugby for my Police nation and State
Exposed to scenes like this one during my tour of duty as an investigating officer in the Force is common sight
Taken during PRS's 5th Anniversary Dinner
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