KUCHING: The proposal to add the Gawai Bazaar to the tourism calendar has received the support of Martin Ben, the Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development.
He noted that this year’s Gawai celebration was much bigger and livelier than ever and hoped next year’s celebration would be grander.
“Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas had said it (the move to include the Gawai Bazaar in the tourism calendar) will be further discussed and we will be supporting it,” said Martin.
He said this to reporters at the Bidayuh Ethnic Art Night at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) compound on Tuesday (June 21).
Earlier, Uggah explained that the inclusion of the Gawai Bazaar as an event in Sarawak and national tourism calendar will be discussed with the federal and state tourism ministers.
Since the Gawai Bazaar is already part of the state-level Dayak Gawai celebration this year, he said it can further enliven the atmosphere of the celebration in Kuching.
In the meantime, the Bidayuh Ethnic Art Night programme is part of the ongoing Gawai Bazaar 2023 event, in which it showcases the unique Bidayuh culture.
During the event, the crowd was entertained by to Bidayuh traditional dance performances ands songs by popular Bidayuh artistes who included Harry Acid Rain, Rannee Pat and Dino.
Present were Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk John Sikie Tayai and assemblymen Miro Simuh (Serembu), Dr Simon Sinan Bada (Tebedu) and John Illus (Bukit Semuja).
