KUCHING: The Dayak community has been urged to play their role in the coming Gawai celebration by strictly adhering to all the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the government.
Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) president Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik said the Gawai SOPs were introduced to reduce the number of Covid-19 positive cases.
“I hope our community is well informed of the deadly danger posed by Covid-19, especially with the emergence of the more infectious variants from India, South Africa, Brazil and the United Kingdom,” he said on Sunday (May 30), adding that the above-mentioned variants have already been detected in Malaysia.
“We have a choice between experiencing the joy of Gawai and the sorrow of Covid-19,” he said.
He also pointed out that the State Health Department has reminded the people that the number of beds available at the intensive care units and other health facilities are stretched beyond their limits and almost at their breaking point.
“So, let’s for once make the decision to give priority to our and our loved ones’ health — no Gawai celebrations or visits — and we will make a difference,” he said.
Ik also took the opportunity to wish all celebrants ‘Selamat Gawai Soma’.
