MIRI: A 253-page book on the Bakong language was launched here yesterday by Beluru district administrating officer Marliney Igil on behalf of Deputy Minister for Public Health , Housing and Local Government I (Public Health and Housing) Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil.
The title of the book is ‘Daftar Kata Bahasa Bakong-Bahasa Melayu’ or a glossary of Bakong language-Malay language.
It is a collaboration between the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and the Ideah Bakong Miri Community Association.
It aims to preserve the ethnic language.The Bakong people settled in the Beluru district 100 years ago.
Currently , there are about 800 Bakong people living in Kampung Melayu Beluru, Bakong.
Penguang, in his speech read by Marliney, said, that the state governmet was always supportive of any efforts to preserves ethnic languages.
Publishing books like this ensures that the languages are properly documented for future references.
“We want to ensure that the Bakong language is not lost along the way,” he added
At the event, Penguang pledged to give a Minor Rural Project (MRP) worth RM10,000 to the association for it to carry out its activities.
Earlier on, DBP Sarawak branch director Abang Haliman Abang Julai said that this effort in documenting an ethnic language in Sarawak would not the last.
He said DBP would continue to conduct research and document ethnic languages in the state.
Melayu Bakong community leader, Penghulu Abdullah Samat described the book as an eye-opener, especially to the younger generations of the Bakong community.
“Most of the younger generation are not able to speak the language well and this is probarly due to mixed marriages,” he explained.
