BELAGA: A cultural committee within the Village Security and Development Committees (JKKKs) has been suggested to preserve traditions and cultures for future generations.
Deputy Minister of Digital Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong said the committee would enable the younger generation to uphold the tradition when the elders are gone.
“When the day comes and the elders have left us, who else will take care of our culture? We ask that the younger generation continue to preserve the tradition.
“This would ensure that culture is preserved because this is something so valuable. No one else would know our culture better than our own people,” he said.
Despite the changing of times, he said, the continuation of culture and values must be preserved for the benefit of the next generation.
“We should maintain the culture that we practise and maintain the ‘ngajat’ (traditional dance).
“As I witnessed earlier, although there was a mixture of music which has changed, make it relevant to the change of times,” he said in his speech at the ‘Pesta Do Ledoh’ closing ceremony at the Uma Kahei community hall on Saturday (July 6).
Ugak said preserving the traditional styles and movements of ‘ngajat’ while acknowledging that global cultural changes may necessitate adaptations in its presentation.
He said every ethnic group must be proud of its values and not be ashamed of it.
“All the ethnic groups have high values, and our customs should not be left out because that is who we are as a race,” he said.
Ugak, the Hulu Rajang MP, shared that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Sri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during his recent trip on July 1 to Punan Ba, Belaga, was impressed with the ethnic groups around Belaga.
“When the Deputy Prime Minister came to Belaga to look at the development and the conditions here, he was impressed with the culture practised by the Punan,” he said.
Also present at the event were acting district officer for Belaga, Bidah Lujah, Belaga police chief DSP Jimbai Bala and Temenggong Ajang Sirek.
