SIBU: Any Dayak organisation can organise a Gawai celebration, be it at the district or division or state or national level, as long as it is a lawful body and follows rules.
Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) president cum deputy president of Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) Munan Laja stated this in his press statement yesterday.
He was referring to recent statements by some Dayak leaders on who should organise Gawai celebrations. Some leaders also proposed that a body be set up to sanction Gawai celebrations in the state.
“To me, as long as the organiser is a lawful body and it follows rules, it’s okay,” he said.
Munan said it would be hard to stop non-governmental organisations or political parties to from holding Gawai celebrations at all levels because all this while, the main organisers of the events were not inclusive.
“Due to this, Dayak NGOs and political parties have to organise their own celebrations to get together with their members to show their comradeship and unity,” he added.
Despite the debates on the subject, Munan noted that so far, there was no untoward incident during this year’s celebrations.
“The celebration in Bintulu organised by Pakatan Harapan and the one in Kuching organised by the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) were very colourful. They provided an opportunity to the Dayaks in the town and city, especially those who can’t go home, to come together and celebrate Gawai Dayak,” he added.
The Dayaks in Sarawak, Munan added, would be having unique and colourful Gawai celebrations year after year, as reflected by their roots and unity in diversity.
“Politicians and political parties need not worry about sanctioning the Gawai celebration. It is a sign of progress and the rise of Dayak transformation,” he said.
Munan also proposed that the organisers of Gawai celebrations in the future recognise successful farmers or entrepreneurs at the district, division and state levels to motivate the Dayaks instead of just having the “Pekit Kumang” (Kumang beauty contests) and Ngajat dances only.
