KAPIT: Kanowit Member of Parliament Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang was full of praise for Kelab Gagung Sibu Sarawak (KGS) for having held with success more than 30 activities within its first year of existence.
He made the comment when officiating at the club’s inaugural anniversary celebration held at a restaurant in Sibu.
“KGS to me is an elite group and an exclusive club as not all can register as members without fulfilling the stipulated criteria include the ownership of a ‘gagung’ (vest), ‘lelanjang’ (headgear), ‘kabo’ , ‘pedang’ (sword) and so forth. In addition the club is a voluntary body. You are there because of your cultural interest. KGS is a very good move towards promoting the Iban culture,” said Aaron.
He was happy to note that KGS has organised many activities over the year. “Everybody is happy because of your existence. With all the hard-to-find costumes you have made the Iban community proud as guardians of the heritage of our forefathers. I hope that you can expand your yourselves as one of the main attractions for tourists,” Aaron said.
An avid collector of traditional costumes and gear, Aaron told that he began collecting the traditional Iban musical instruments such as ‘tawak’, ‘engkerumung’, ‘bebendai’ when the items were rather cheap at between two to four hundred ringgit. However now he said the costs of such items could reach thousands of ringgit.
He lauded KGS for being able to maintain the Iban culture for the future generation. “The Iban ‘ngajat’, sape, ‘gendang pampat’ ,Iban martial art known as ‘kuntau’ are the things that if we do not revive will be a lost tradition. Many a time during Gawai if someone asks you to ‘ngajat’, most will not oblige as they do not have the skill,” Aaron said.
A special guest from Kuala Lumpur, the chairman of Persatuan Warisan Sabah/Sarawak, Dr. Lawrence who also spoke at the function called on KGS to be business minded to convert their culture into economy and was hopeful that they could promote their activities in West Malaysia where there are about half a million Sarawakians and Sabahans working or staying there.
“We have helped to promote Sarawak and Sabah culture in the Peninsula and one of them is by the setting up of ‘Borneo Street’ in Ampang. On 13 and 14 May this year we will be organising the traditional dance competition for Sabah and Sarawak in Kuala Lumpur and I am extending my invitation to KGS. We are ready to subsidise RM1,500 for the flight fare,” he said.
Also present at the anniversary gathering were the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Public Utilities, Dato Ir. Alice Jawan who is also the chairperson of SIDS Sibu, KGS chairman Jabang Juntan, an Iban community leader for Sibu division Temenggong Stanley Geramong, organising chairman ASP Johnson Nuing, the club’s advisor Sammy Ngelambai, a special guest from Kuala Lumpur, the wife of Dr. Lawrence, KGS deputy chairman Patros Tandang and some 150 KGS members and invited guests.
