DALAT: A total of RM3.1 million has been allocated for establishment of Melanau Heritage Gallery here in Dalat.
To show his undivided support to the establishment of the centre, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg allocated an additional allocation of RM2 million on Sunday and with that the whole project would cost RM3.1 million.
Johari announced the additional allocation when officiating at the earth breaking ceremony of the centre on Sunday afternoon which by itself was an indication of the support of the state government on the matter.
Its establishment had been considered as timely especially to preserve the priceless arts, customs and culture of the Melanaus.
It is one of the most practical and concrete approaches to uplift and showcase the valuable heritage to the world beside from putting them into practice like through dance, drama and documentation especially during this era of globalisation where the old ones could be sidelined due to modernisation.
When completed in the near future, the gallery would not only become a place to showcase the richness of the arts, customs and culture of the ethnic group but also another tourist attraction for the area.
Hence, the initiative undertaken by Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development, Datuk Hajah Fatimah Abdullah should be supported by the residents of the district especially among the Melanaus from all walks of life.
The site for the project at Oya Sub-District had been identified and approved by Land and Survey Department on 22 June, this year.
In her speech at the function, Fatimah, who is also Dalat State Assemblywoman, disclosed that the location would be between the Oya Sub-District Office and the old quarters there.
“It would be for the heritage of the Melanaus in Oya and Dalat, to place the history of Oya, Melanau arts and cultural centre and also the sago based economic activities of Oya and Dalat of which the contributor of about 57 per cent of the sago industry for the state. Beside to showcase the heritage, the centre especially on the first floor, would be the offices for LAKMO (Lembaga Amanah Kabajikan Melayu Oya) which was formed in 1958 and PERKIM. A conference room would also be on the floor to be used the relevant organisations,” she disclosed.
She also touched on the rationale of the setting up of the skill training centre, CENTEXS, in Dalat service centre to enable the children of the area to equip themselves with that much needed skills.
“In the previous UPSR, PPD Dalat(Dalat Education Office) was the top in the state from 31 PPDs in the state and number 30 from 139 in Malaysia. I would also like to reveal that a total of 1267 students had received the one-off assistance to further their studies at the certificate level, diploma and degree from DUN N.56 Dalat Service Centre. The centre if materialised could also accommodate the students from the nearby areas or from outside the district,” disclosed Fatimah.
