May 24, 2010, Monday Borneo Post
KUCHING: The ‘ngabang’ (visit each other’s open houses) concept during Gawai festival should be maintained as it has proved to be an effective way to strengthen comradeship and improve understanding and tolerance of each other’s cultures. Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, who said this on Saturday night, also hoped to see more open houses in individual homes instead of just limiting it to ‘dewan’ (multi-purpose halls) only.
“It is not about eating or drinking but it is about strengthening one’s relationship and fostering closer ties among the various races in the community. I hope that the ‘ngabang’ and open house concept would be continued by all races in all celebrations,” he said. Daud, who is also Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development, mentioned this at the ‘Pre-Gawai Celebration 2010’ at Taman Malihah here.
The dinner was jointly organised by Taman Malihah’s Dayak Social Welfare and Recreational Cub together with Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Taman Malihah II branch . According to Daud, he finds the Gawai festival as becoming more prominent as it also attracts attention from people of other ethnic groups and religions, even from outside Sarawak.
He said come June 1, it is a norm to see many different races flocking to the longhouses to witness first hand the ‘Miring’ and the ‘Ngetas Ranyai’ ceremonies to mark the opening of the Gawai celebration. “Dayaks should be proud of this appeal. Even though every race has its own celebration, this sentiment shows that each and everyone of us has a place in Sarawak. “When everybody celebrates each other’s culture, clearly that sincerity is in place and this proves that the 1Malaysia spirit has always been practised in the state way before our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak introduced his 1Malaysia concept,” he said.
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