BY AWANG MUHAMMAD SYAHMI
KUCHING: The merriment of the Gawai Dayak festival should be used as a platform to strengthen friendships and maintain unity among the various communities.
Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) mayor Datuk Junaidi Reduan said that Gawai Dayak festival needed to be maintained to foster the spirit of togetherness and belonging in accepting the cultural diversity in Sarawak which is the backbone of the sustainability, harmony and prosperity the people enjoyed today.
“The prosperity and stability that we have achieved today is the result of the spirit of cooperation from all races and is the key to unity which is the practice and attitude of tolerance towards each other,” he said.
He said this in his speech during the closing ceremony of the Lepek’ Dau Ledoh Gawai DBKU 2023 at the DBKU Lobby here today.
Furthermore, he added that the annual celebration, which was hosted by the Orang Ulu community this year, marked the end of the community’s harvest season.
“The purpose of holding this event is so that DBKU employees of diverse races, religions and cultures can come together, rejoice, and partake in the joyous and thrilling festivities of Gawai Dayak.
“Therefore, being able to get to know each other more closely and respect each other and maintain the already established unity,” he said.
Also present during this ceremony were DBKU board members Datuk Bakrie Zaini and Sih Hua Tong, and DBKU director Mohamed Khaidir Abang.
