By Neville Timothy Sanders and Jacintha Jolene
PADAWAN: A Bidayuh Mystique Festival will be held for the first time to showcase Bidayuh culture, art and cuisine.
Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities, Datuk Willie Mongin said Bidayuh culture, art and cuisine may be at risk of being forgotten over the years.
“That’s the purpose of this event, we want to bring the mystique of Bidayuh culture, its glamour and also to bring back the strength of this particular cuisine,” he said.
He added that lots of activities will be held during the festival such as Bidayuh cooking competition, poco-poco dance competition and most importantly the Dayung Remus pageant , where the winner will receive RM2,000, trophy, a scarf, certificate and other gifts.
“We are also inviting people from the government agencies, federal and the state, and also the private sector to be part of this event.
“The festival will begin on July 29 and end on July 31 at the St. Paul Benuk Parish Hall, Jalan Puncak Borneo and we are inviting the Bidayuh communities from all over,” he added.
He also invited people from other races to come and support the festival.
“This is to ensure that we learn other people’s culture and respect each other as part of the Keluarga Malaysia vision,” he added during a press conference on Tuesday (July 12).
He said they are inviting state and federal ministers as well as MPs and assemblymen and assemblywomen to come and join the event.
“Our target for the three day event is between 4,000 and 5,000 visitors,” he added.
