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VOLUME 6

NOVEMBER 2000

PERMIT NO. PPK 231/4/2001

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Gawai Dayak In KL

THE Gawai Dayak festival entered a new chapter this year. The festival - one of the Dayak's biggest traditional celebrations - had for the first time in history was celebrated in Kuala Lumpur.

Traditionally, it is confined to only the people in Sarawak, the Dayak community in particular.

Sarawak Dayak Cultural Foundation (SDCF) hosted the four-day (June 9-11) event in collaboration with the National Unity and Community Development Ministry.

A series of events was lined-up for the festival including cultural extravaganza for four consecutive nights at the Suria KLCC Esplanade and a special cultural performance at the Rumah Sarawak, attended by Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Siti Aisyah.

Some 200 cultural troupe performers, comprising Bidayuh, Iban and Orang Ulu communities from the SDCF were specially flown in from here to put up the show, which attracted thousands of crowds nightly. The cultural extravaganza also includes special appearance by renowned artists from the three communities. Singer Richmond Allan Morshidi represented the Bidayuh while Andrewson Ngalai and Cik Elliana Marcel Gabriel for the Iban.

Adding color and glamour to the event was a special appearance by the nine State- level Gawai Dayak 2000 finalists in their traditional wears during every show.

The highlight of the Gawai Dayak Kuala Lumpur 2000 was a grand dinner cum closing ceremony graced by the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdulllah Ahmad Badawi at the KL Hilton.

Deputy Minister for National Unity and Community Development Dr Tiki Lafe proposed that the festival be recognized and celebrated annually at the national level.

He, who was sentimental in bringing the festival to Kuala Lumpur, also suggested it to be included in the national tourism calendar.

Dr Tiki opined would not only help promote national integration but good avenue to inculcate among Malaysian's multiracial society the true spirit of unity in diversity, where they would learn to respect each other's culture and tradition.

The Gawai Dayak festival was officially recognised as a major festival in Sarawak and gazetted as public holiday in 1965.

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