MIRI: With the post-election period and the current political scenario scene, it is crucial for the people of this state to continue enhancing unity among various races and ethnicity. This was said by Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan in his speech read by State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Deputy Speaker, Datuk Gerawat Gala during the opening of the Miri Division Gawai Dayak celebration 2018 here on Saturday night. The celebration was organised by the Dayak Bidayuh National Association Miri (DBNA), in collaboration with the Federation of Orang Ulu Associations Sarawak Malaysia (FORUM), Serakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) and the Dayak Association Miri (DAM).
Also present during the event were the Assistant Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture, Datuk Lee Kim Shin, DBNA Miri president, Captain Bernard Idit, Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Na t i v e L and and Re g i ona l D e v e l o pme n t P e rma n e n t Secretary, Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, Director of Administration in the Chief Minister’s Office, Antonio Kahti Galis, Telang Usan State Assemblyman, Dennis Ngau, and Miri Resident, Sher r ina Hussaini.
That night, the event working committee received a total of RM70,000. 61 excellent Dayak students (UPSR, PMR, SPM and STPM level) received incentives for their achievements in 2017 examinations. Beauty contests, with one category for Men (Keling/Belawan) and three categories for women (‘Dayung Sangon’, ‘Keligit Orang Ulu’ and ‘Kumang Iban’) were also held that night.
For the ‘Dayung Sangon’ beauty contest category, Emelia Edwin was crowned winner, while Audry Desmond Daie emerged first runner-up and Engelina Bungan Kevin, second-runner up. For ‘Keligit Orang Ulu’ category, the crown went to Larissa Ping Liew, first-runner up goes to Pamela Gloria John and Sharina Tiffany, third.
Meanwhile, in the ‘Kumang Iban’ category, the champion was Eyvonny Lawai. The first runnerup was Priscilla Martin Lah and second-runner up, Winnie Bui. For the Men’s ‘Keling/Belawan’ category, Jacob Jinggut Vincent, 22, from Kanowit, Sibu bagged the champion title, while the first runner-up was Reymar Manuel Tabari and Mike Jonathan John the second runner-up.
The champions in each category went home with educational scholarships worth RM20,000, while first runner-up brought home educational scholarships worth RM15,000 and the second runner-up took home educational scholarships worth RM10,000.
