KUCHING: Hundreds of people turned up at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Jemut Masing to witness the Gawai ‘Ngiling Tikai’ 2017 ceremony yesterday.
The ‘Ngiling Tikai’ ceremony, which began at noon was also witnessed by the Head of the State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib together with the Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and his wife Datin Amar Dato Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Masing said that he was pleased that both the Head of the State and the Chief Minister could come to the ceremony despite their very tight schedule.
“The fact that the two top leaders of the State can make their time, plus the corporate business people and also people from all over Sarawak, I am very pleased,” he said.
The ceremony began at noon and continued until 6pm ending with the symbolic rolling of the rattan mat as a closing gimmick.
Among those present at the ceremony were Minister of Local Government Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian; Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong; Minister of Women, Welfare and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah; Assistant Minister of Transportation Datuk Dr Jerip Susil; State Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Snowdan Lawan; Assistant Minister for Early Childhood Education and Family Development Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and other distinguished guests.
With all the high-profile guests, the Ngiling Tikai do was certainly a grand event.
