KUCHING: Gawai Dayak is special because it embodies what is considered to be the essence of Sarawak, a multi-cultural community living in harmony for years, says Sarawak St John Ambulance commander Datuk Seri Ang Lai Soon.
He added that the renowned Sarawak Rangers, Border Scouts and Iban Trackers had a special place in Malaysian history for their role in upholding law and order through the Brooke period, the British colonial government, the Malayan Emergency, the Confrontation, and the turbulence in the late 1960s.
“We should always remember with appreciation the role they played alongside the police and armed services in making our country secure for all of us, as well as their enormous contribution to our national economy.
“The Dayak people, like other important ethnic groups, have made significant contributions to the country and they are renowned for their valour in battle and their steadfastness in peacetime.
“Prior to June 1, Sarawak’s main ethnic group, the Dayaks, celebrated Gawai on different days in their traditional longhouses.”
Ang urged all communities to make short-term sacrifices in order to reap long-term benefits, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“With the current pandemic, climate change, and a nearly paralysed global economy, the situation is becoming unbearable.
“It would be absurd to live in a society where wearing a mask is required every day and staying at home, living a life of isolation is regarded as good.
“We will keep this in mind as we celebrate Gawai, but let us also fulfil our patriotic duty by doing it only among immediate family members, and we can celebrate with friends and relatives via Zoom, Face Time, or a simple phone call because in this trying time, it is the thought that matters.”
Ang wished everyone a Happy Gawai Dayak while keeping everyone’s safety and health in mind.
“To the legendary brave and loyal Dayaks and families, I wish you all a blessed, safe and Happy Gawai Dayak.”
Full text of the message:
“Prior to June 1 , the largest ethnic group in Sarawak, the Dayaks, celebrated their Gawai on different days in their different traditional longhouses in Sarawak.
The Dayak people, like other major ethnic groups, have made substantial contributions to the country.
They are known for their great bravery in war, and their loyalty in peace time.
The legendary Sarawak Rangers, Border Scouts and Iban Trackers had a special place in the history of this country for the outstanding role they played in maintaining law and order during the Brooke period, the British colonial administration, the Malayan Emergency, the Confrontation, and the unrest in the late sixties. making the country safe for all of us.
We should always remember with gratitude the part they played with the police and the armed forces in making the country safe for all of us, and their significant contribution to our national economy.
To me Gawai Dayak is very special, as it embodies what I think of as the core of Sarawak’s essence, that is a multi-ethic, multi-religious, multi-lingual and multi-cultural community living in harmony, with everyone having a dedicated day in the year on which their particular customs, heritage, beliefs and ethnicity are celebrated and honoured.
Officially gazetted in 1964, it is highly significant and special not only as day of celebration for over 40 percent of our population, but also in setting an example to the world at large of unity and harmony in a country with a multiplicity of customs, religions, ethnicities and heritage. It symbolises a policy of inclusion by celebrating differences, in sharp contrast to what is happening in so many parts of the world today – selective exclusion that leads to mayhem and destruction in struggles for hegemony.
In some parts of the world, where you pray, where you come from, where you live, and what you believe in have become issues which divide peoples and resulting in conflicts and unrest in this turbulent and uncertain world.
This day is a reminder that we must always be on our guard against divisive influences.
For two years we are celebrating all national. religious and cultural events in the so called new normal, social distancing, wearing mask and washing hands. Physical contact is totally discouraged.
All citizens are asked to make short-term sacrifices for long-term benefit. It would be senseless to live in a world where the wearing of mask is mandatory everyday and staying at home, living a life in isolation is considered ideal.
Every moment is controlled and monitored!
With the present coronavirus pandemic, the climate change and the almost paralysed global economy, the situation is getting quite untenable.
Life is temporary, and with the pandemic it is even more so.
In celebrating Gawai, we will bear this in mind, but let’s do our patriotic duty by doing it privately among immediate family members only, and we can virtually celebrate it with friends and relatives via Zoom, FaceTime or a mere phone call. It is the thought that counts at this challenging time.
To the legendary brave and loyal Dayaks and families, I wish you all a blessed, safe and Happy Gawai Dayak.”
