MUKAH: A former territorial army personnel and former M-LNG security personnel, Philip Linguh B Radin was appointed as the Melanau Customs Key Personnel (Pakar Rujuk) for Dalat.
The 66-year-old grandfather received the certificate of appointment from Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development, Datuk Hajah Fatimah Abdullah yesterday morning.
The event also saw the presentation of appointment certificates to 22 community leaders, customs practitioners, and leaders of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) as members of Dalat Area Melanau Customs Committee (DAMCC).
They received the recognition during the closing of a 2-day Melanau Customs (Dalat Area Melanau Wedding Customs) Workshop 2017 held at Dalat Community Hall which ended, yesterday. It is learnt that the appointments have been certified by Sarawak Customs Council (MAIS), with each committee to be assisted by the key personnel.
Besides Datuk Fatimah, MAIS Head, Datu Ganie Ugay and chairman of Dalat Melanau Association, Benedict Pon Akie also spoke at the function.
Among those present were Dalat District Officer, Kueh Lei Poh, Temenggong Hendi Suhai, Pemanca Albert Kiruh Abau and local community leaders. In her speech at the function, Fatimah pointed out that the appointments were made to recognise and respect the priceless contributions of the committee members.
Fatimah who is also Dalat Assemblywoman disclosed that Melanau Customs Committee has been formed in five areas in the region in early 2014.
“They are Dalat area, Batang Mukah area, Tellian area, Petanak area in Mukah Division and Seduan area (Kpg Nangka, Sibu). These committees are tasked to coordinate and administer the customs practiced by the villages under their respective areas,” she said.
Hence, she praised the organisers for coming up with the workshop which she considered as a very effective and practical approach of maintaining and preserving the priceless customs of the Melanau and she wanted to see more participation from the youngsters.
Fatimah reiterated that language, costumes, arts and customs are the priceless images and identities of a certain race which should be treasured.
“Melanau customs draft 2017 has been compiled and now in the process of verification. It consists of 8 sections and the fourth section is about wedding customs and other related items. This workshop is specially for verification on wedding customs of Dalat including the dowry for engagement and wedding (Surong Tunang and Surong Berian),” she said.
Fatimah also touched on the marriage age of which the bride or bridegroom must be 16 years old and above and also the gathering of the people from Dalat or members of E-DOK (residents of Dalat, Oya, and Sungai Kut living, working and studying in Kuching) in the state capital recently, and also mulled to produce Melanau Dalat/Bahasa Melayu Dictionary.
The two-day workshop which was organised by DMA in collaboration with MAIS attracted 220 participants from 16 villagers in the area.
