KUCHING: The mother tongue remains a vital feature in a cultural heritage, according to Abdul Aziz Isa, Special Officer to Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Chong Chieng Jen.
He said it is a legacy that’s inherited from past generations to be maintained for the benefit of future generations.
He said today keeping this legacy alive is even more important because the younger generations, regardless of their ethnicities, are conversing in English and Bahasa Malaysia in their daily communication instead of their mother tongue.
“It is undoubtedly important for us to master the two languages but we should not forget our native language as it is part of a racial identity,” he said during the Rami Gawia Semeba, Community and Consumerism 2019 held at Kampung Semeba Community Hall on Friday.
He also pointed out that since the year 2000, as many as 19 native languages in the world have vanished.
“If we are not proud of our mother tongue, the language will vanish along with its identity,” stressed Abdul Aziz.
Therefore, he urged the younger generations of the Bidayuh community to continue conversing in their mother tongue.
As of 2019, the Bidayuh community has a total of 206,000 people comprising three main dialects Bau-Jagoi, Biatah and Bukar Sadong and its sub-dialects such as Bianah, Pinyawa, Bisepug, Bipuruh, Bisitang and Selako-Lara.
“However, the difference in dialect of this language does not split the community but instead unifies the Bidayuh society in Sarawak,” he added.
He also said that the tradition and cultural performance should also be passed down to the younger generations. The Bidayuh tradition can be seen through Dayung Sangon and Dari Ngigap, Tarian Tolak Bala, Tarian Wek Jonggan, Tarian Nyigar Pirami, Tarian Jobien Tipu, Tarian Langgie Pingadap and more to showcase their appearance and display their ethnic costumes.
The younger generations would then be able to appreciate their tradition and recognise the origin of their ancestors.
“Perhaps next year, we can add more to this traditional event and welcome the villagers especially the children to participate, which allow them to learn the tradition of their ancestors in a harmonious and communal atmosphere,” said Abdul Aziz.
The two-day event was jointly organised with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Heineken Malaysia Berhad and Aeon Malaysia.
Meanwhile, about 1,000 people thronged the Semeba community hall and was entertained with seven cultural performances from five districts where the Bidayuh community resides, namely Lundu, Kuching (Semeba), Padawan, Bau, Serian.
