DALAT: The latest local produced centre, the Nita Dalat Bazaar, is expected to be in operation by the end of April this year.
“Today, we are opening the booth for the women entrepreneurs from Dalat to register to participate in the Bazaar Nita,” said Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development, Dato Sri Hajah Fatimah Abdullah.
Besides the bazaar, she said, Dalat Delivery would also be established to enable the clients to obtain the product produced and sold by the local women such as cakes or biscuits and have them be delivered to their doorsteps.
Once established, the two local economic promoting platforms would be the first of its kind to be established in the area, if not in Mukah Division.
Fatimah, who is also Dalat State Assemblywoman, said this while officiating at the Traditional Dance Workshop held at Stadium Perpaduan here on Sunday morning.
Touching on the workshop, she was overwhelmed with the response from the public which indicated that the promoting of local arts and culture was closed at heart of the people of Dalat.
“I was told that today, the workshop was participated by seventeen groups that comprise a total of 157 aspiring dancers from our area. As what was said about any workshop or events held in Dalat, the number of participants are always surpasses the limit, which indicating that our people appreciates our richness arts and culture.
“This is in line with the motto of the workshop of “Berakar Rumbia Berinti Budaya” (Sago Root with Cultural Filling) which is also the tagline of Dalat District,” disclosed Fatimah.
She also impressed with the spirit of oneness among the colourful participants for their seriousness in mastering the dances though some of them belongs to other ethnic groups in the state.
“That is the uniqueness our culture and Sarawak, we are always united in all things and had no problem in practicing other traditional dances. This spirit also makes the people of Dalat and Sarawak very special,” reiterated Fatimah.
To show her support, the minister also announced an allocation of RM500 each for the participating groups to kick start their future activities.
Based on the existence of richness of the arts and culture of the local, she added, it had prompted them to establish the Heritage Gallery in Dalat to document and display the local art and culture under one roof.
She also thanked Sarawak Arts Council for organising the workshop in Dalat and considered it as a very successful one.
Fatimah also advised the CENTEX Dalat Branch to also include the making of Melanau Costumes as one of its courses as this traditional wear which is getting popular also fetches a very good price in the local market.
The closing ceremony of the two-day workshop also featured the poco-poco dance from the senior citizens, the dance demonstration by some of the participating groups, fashion show and registration of members for local Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
Also present at the function were Mukah Division Deputy Resident, Abdul Halim Abdullah, Dalat District Officer, Kueh Leh Poh, Esther from Sarawak Arts Council, Temenggong Haji Hendi Suhai, heads of department and local community leaders.
