SIBU: Initiated in 2003, this year marks the 14th year of Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF), which received an overwhelming response from the people.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the objective of the festival is to preserve Dayak culture in order to sustain its existence and purity despite of rapid modernisation.
“As we all know, the people of Sarawak comprise more than 48 sub-ethnic groups. The Iban ethnic group alone has diferrent variations depending on their localities, differing slightly in their language usage and manners of speech, traditional costumes and food preferences.
“So does the Bidayuh group and some of the sub ethnics of Orang Ulu that we rarely hear of such as the Saban, Kejaman, Sekapan, Berawan, Ukit, Kiput and others,” he said in his text of speech which was read by his representative political secretary to the Chief Minister Thomas Romeo Christopher Tegong during the closing of Borneo Dayak Cultural Festival (BDCF) Pavilion held on Wednesday night.
According to him, the festival which is an annual event not only attracts local people but also the tourists. It will be able to witness Sarawak as the cultural melting pot of Malaysia through its games, event, showcases of various regalia and food.
“Therefore through an effort such as this we are helping to ensure that this colourful culture would not perish or remains submerged in the midst of the globalisation,” he added.
Moreover, Uggah said the increasing number of participation and size of crowd in its every event is a good indicator that BCF meets its objectives.
“Thus, we hope that the youths will continue to maintain and safeguard such legacy from generations to generations,” he said.
