By Sarah Hafizah Chandra & Noor Shahira Hady
KUCHING: After two years of moderate celebrations, members of the public flocked to the Gawai Dayak open house hosted by Dayak leaders from the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) today.
Starting at 10am, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and his wife, as well as other PBB Dayak leaders, welcomed and greeted guests at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
Visitors of various backgrounds, ethnicities and ages were spotted enjoying a range of Dayak traditional cakes apart from nasi minyak, fried noodle, beef and chicken curry and others.
Some people dressed up in traditional costumes, batiks, dresses and others to show their enthusiasm for the event.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and his wife Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, who arrived at 11.47am, were present to grace the event.
Ushers clad in traditional Dayak costumes greeted Abang Johari and other dignitaries upon their arrival.
The dancing group from the Dayak Cultural Foundation also entertained them with Iban, Orang Ulu and Bidayuh cultural performances.
Also present were Deputy Premiers Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, Utilities and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Deputy Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Energy and Environmental Sustainability Deputy Minister Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Public Health, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Michael Tiang, Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Education, Innovation and Talent Development Deputy Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63, and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; Deputy Minister in Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala, Agriculture Modernisation and Regional Development Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail.
State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Satok assemblyman Datuk Ibrahim Baki, Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, Repok assemblyman Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii, Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang, Opar assemblyman Billy Sujang, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, Batang Lupar MP Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, former Tanjung Datu assemblywoman Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Datuk Wee Hong Seng, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr Abdul Aziz Husain were also attended the ceremony.
