MUKAH: The annual Mukah Kaul Festival has been proposed to be held at Kala Dana Beach from April 11 to 19, 2020.
While the event date is still subject to change, the meeting at Menara Pehin Setia Raja here on Monday had fixed ‘Kaul Tugek’ on April 17 and ‘Keman Kaul’ on April 19.
‘Kaul Tugek’ is a revival of the traditional practice involving a simple ritual-like ceremony at a location called ‘tugek’, about 300km from the site of Pesta Kaul at Kala Dana beach, and lasts for about two hours.
Meanwhile, ‘Keman Kaul’ is a formal lunch reception involving VVIPs and other invited guests with musical and dance performance.
Mukah Division Resident Hamdiah Bakir said the purpose of the meeting was to form the 2020 Mukah Kaul Festival committee.
She added that it was also to plan activities, arrange duties, fix the event date, and prepare estimated expenses.
“For ‘Keman Kaul’, which is the highlight of the festival, Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Toh Puan Ragad Kurdi Taib as well as Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Open are expected to attend,” she said during the meeting.
It would also see attendance by representatives from government departments and agencies as well as non-governmental organisation.
During the meeting, the Federation of Melanau Associations Sarawak president Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad was appointed as patron and joint-chairman of the committee, while Hamdiah and Balingian assemblyman Abdul Yakub Arbi as joint-chairpersons.
Abdul Yakub later called on the committee to ensure that the giant swing ‘tibow’ at the event site is in good condition.
He also hoped that all committee members would cooperate to ensure the smooth running of the event.
The meeting, among others also discussed on the proposed community stalls, cultural performance, community sports, and Melanau heritage performance from districts in Mukah Division.
Also present at the meeting were political secretaries to the chief minister Kenil Jerai’ie and Faridah Osman, Mukah District officer Shafrie Saili and temenggong Hendi Suhai.
