Dinner a smashing success

The diverse minority Kenyah community in the state were told in no uncertain term to be united in order to play a significance role in the development of the country.

“We must move in unison as one united association in order to be able to do great things. We must refrain from infighting among ourselves. We must give our full support to our association because the moment we go our separate ways we create walls between ourselves,” said the deputy minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan.

He said this at the Sarawak Kenyah Cultural Festival dinner at the Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club last night.

Present were Pujut assemblyman Andy Chia, the organising chairman Marcus Gau Lian, the association president councillor Simpson Njock Lenjau,the Miri Resident Datuk Ose Murang, the Miri District Officer Abdul Aziz Yusuf, Datin Winnie Jolly the wife of Jacob, Penan community leader Datuk Hassan Sui, several Kenyah community leaders both from Baram and Belaga like Penghulu Paul Kalang, Penghulu Theodorious Lenjau Kuleh and Penghulu Danny Ebang.

The dinner organised by the Kenyah National Association (PKKS) marked the closing of a three-day festival which saw more than 800 guests attending.

The festival itself, a combination of cultural and traditional games competition between the seven branches of the association saw a participation of nearly a thousand people taking part in the first ever Kenyah festival with the theme The Spirit, Pride and Patriotism of Usun Apau.

Jacob, himself a Kenyah from Long Anap, is the only Kenyah holding the highest political post for the community. He was appointed by the Prime Minister after the last general election after successfully defending the Baram seat,a predominantly Orang Ulu constituency for the third time for the Barisan Nasional.

The Kenyah tribe, unlike the other indigenous groups in the state is as diverse as the more than twenty ethnic groups, divided along dialectic groups. As a consequence, there is a tendency to be parochial within the community.

“United we stand, Divided we fall. We must be like a team of paddlers in a boat that must paddle the boat in unison toward a common destination. For example, if a few paddlers start to paddle against the direction of the boat, the boat will not move forward and neither will it reach its desired destination,” said Jacob.

“Then we must ask ourselves, what is the way forward for our community? That is where the association must sit down to discuss and chart the way forward for the community. We must not forget we are part of a bigger community the Malaysian society at large and we have a role to play in nation building,” he added.

During the dinner the deputy minister was given the honour to launch the PKKS Education Fun thereafter announcing a donation of RM20,000. Yesterday, another Orang Ulu politician, the Telang Usan assemblyman Lihan Jok pledged a donation of RM15,000 after launching the beachton, a fund raising effort toward the Education Fund.

Besides donating toward the Education Fund Jacob, being the patron of the festival, also announced a donation of RM8,000 to the organising committee for hosting the festival.

Other guests who were moved spontaneously to donate toward the Education Fund during the dinner were Datin Winnie, Hassan Sui, Dora Kalang, and a prominent Kelabit doctor Dr. Roland Dom Mattu who pledged RM1,000 each.

Chia pledged a donation of RM3,000 to the Education Fund.

The total donation collected during the dinner for the fund was RM29,176.

Jacob said education must continue to be the top priority of the association in its struggle to assist the community to elevate its socio-economic status in a competitive and globalised society.

“It is hoped that through this Education Fund we can take the initiative to lend a helping hand to our children without having to wait for aid from the government or other sources,” said Jacob.

Meanwhile, 22-year old Veronica Usun Jok from Long Moh was crowned the Bungan Lisu in the first ever Kenyah beauty contest beating eleven other contestants,walking away with cash prize RM800, a trophy, a beauty set and a certificate. First runner up was Serrlyn Bungan Nyurang and second runner up was Priscilla Nadin, each walking away with RM600 and RM400 respectively besides a trophy and a beauty set and a certificate each.

The overall champions for the cultural and the traditional games competitions was PKKS Asap Belaga and PKKS Bintulu respectively. Each walked away with a challenge trophy.ENDS.

Caption: WARRIOR DANCE: Jacob displaying his Ngajet Lasan-the traditional Kenyah dance-skill to the dinner guests as a way of officiating the dinner.

Kenyahs must be united to stay significance

Indigenous minority groups in the state must enhance unity among themselves in order to be able to contribute toward nation building, said Telang Usan assemblyman Lihan Jok.

“Being small, doesn't make us insignificance in the context of nation building. But what makes us irrelevant is when we, being a minority, start to quarrel among ourselves over petty issues. The moment we do that, we lose the respect of other races in the country,” said Lihan.

He said this at the official opening of the Sarawak Kenyah Cultural Festival at the city council field yesterday.

The three-day festival was organised by the Kenyah National Association (PKKS) with seven of its branches taking part.

Present were the festival organising chairman Marcus Gau Lian, association president councillor Simpson Njock Lenjau, Orang Ulu paramount chief Temenggong Pahang Ding and several Kenyah community leaders both from Belaga and Baram regions.

Lihan praised the association for hosting the festival for the first time for its people, the Kenyahs.

“This augurs well for the Kenyahs in the state for it reflects your desire to be united and progress with the other races. I respect the most this kind of festival, for it brings people together in a joyous and happy mood. I dare say this festival is a celebration of victory for the Kenyahs, for as a people you have come a long way,” said Lihan.

“This festival heralds a new spirit, can we call it the Spirit of Usun Apau, among the Kenyahs, and it is this spirit that will lead you on to play a significant role in nation building in the future,” he added.

Lihan told the Kenyah never to forget that unity is the key to their significance and relevancy in nation building.

“I cannot overemphasize the importance of unity for your progress as a people in this beloved country of ours. The moment the Kenyahs break up and quarrel among themselves, that is the road of going down the hill for them,” said Lihan.

It was believed that the Kenyahs, one of the many tribes in Borneo first settled at the Usun Apau plateau before migrating to the other parts of Borneo.

The Kenyahs as a tribe is unique among the Orang Ulu groups. The Kenyahs are divided into so many sub-tribes along dialectic lines. Probably there are as many Kenyah sub-groups as there are tribes in Sarawak.

Lihan advised the Kenyahs to support the government of the day if they want to progress with the rest of the country.

“I believe that is the right platform for you to help your people. But the moment, your Kenyah leaders are antagonistic toward the government you will find it is a hard road ahead. My advice is to support the present government,” said Lihan.

Lihan was given the honour to launch the Beachton for the PKKS Education Fund raising effort during the ceremony too.

As a gesture he fully support the association for its noble aim in putting education as a top priority for its members, Lihan donated RM15,000 to the fund through the Beachton launching.

“I am aware that we had exceeded our target of one family one graduate among our people, the Kenyahs and the Kayans. In this competitive globalised world, education is the key to our survival,” said Lihan. ENDS.

Caption: SOUND OF UNITY: Lihan officiating at the festival with Kenyah leaders.