BAU: The pros outweigh the cons in most, if not all, of the festive activities including Pesta Gawai, Gawai Sales and Pesta Tasik Biru organised here annually.
Contrary to negative perceptions by certain quarters, these activities have significant positive impacts in many aspects, declared Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.
For one, they provide the much-needed space for youths who are passionate about doing business, especially young entrepreneurs, small vendors and enterprises to start trade.
In the case of first-time participants, the space offers them opportunities to gain useful knowledge and exposure about doing business, he said.
“With their involvement in these festivals, selling all sorts of products, be these handicraft, jungle produce, drinks or food, to name a few, the participants also get to earn their own income.
“So, on the whole, if one were to conduct socio-cultural and economic impact studies of the festivals on the society, the pros far outweigh the cons,” he pointed out in response to negative criticisms hurled by certain quarters about too many festivals being organised here.
Some even went as far as saying the festivals were doing more harm than good to the locals.
Henry said: “Coming from a background of corporate business, I started to develop the idea of enriching thy neighbour and bringing up your own people, especially those who are passionate about venturing into business.
“The biggest challenge was: How are we going to support them besides providing opportunities and venues for them to do business?”
Henry said for now, Bau town is still very much lacking in venues for the local people, especially Bidayuh youths to open up business.
The festivals, therefore, provide them with the much-needed venues to explore the business world, albeit on a small scale for a start, he reasoned in an interview.
Henry said prior to becoming the assemblyman for Tasik Biru, he had actually set up the Singai commercial centre in Tondong, aimed at providing a venue for Bidayuh youths to venture into business.
He said today the development has become a catalyst to creating a new paradigm shift for Bidayuh to venture into business in Bau.
Capitalising on its positive impact, Henry said he decided to create more venues for those who are not only passionate but aspire to scale up the corporate ladder.
“If they can’t afford to buy the premises, they can always rent them first. This way, they will at least have the opportunity to start their business,” he said.
“The whole idea is to help them grow together. The key word here is to uplift others. In business, we try to uplift others and not pull them down, hence those activities like Pesta Bau and Gawai Sales, to name few. We also have Pesta Tasik Biru but this was organised even before I became YB,” he added.
On Bau Gawai Sales, Henry said it was a trend throughout the state when Gawai Dayak was approaching.
Like any other festive activities, it was also to provide a venue for aspiring Bidayuh youths to embrace the business world and to earn some income prior to celebrating the Gawai Dayak, he added.
On the beauty pageant, which was always part of the festive activities and had also attracted negative criticisms, Henry said it was always upon the request by the various women organisations and committee members who are in the committee for the festival.
“Their goals, missions and core values in hosting the pageant are noble. They want to help bring up their fellow women to higher levels through the various soft skills trainings and exposures that the participants need to undergo.
“The beauty contest would also improve the participants’ positive self-image, confidence and outgoing personality,” he added.
Henry refutes negative perceptions attached to festivals by critics.
