KUCHING: Bidayuhs must know their past to understand their present and plan for their future, said Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong.
He was speaking at the launch of two Bisingai Bidayuh books entitled “Pingunai Ikonomik Bisingai De Joman Omba” and “Oran Pingoma To” and Bau Bicentennial Celebration 2020 dinner cum talk at a hotel here on Tuesday (Dec 29).
“For us to succeed in the future, we need to know what happened in the past.
“We need to know exactly who we were, what we are, what were our mistakes, what were our stances,” added Manyin.
He said the 200-year history of gold mining in Bau proved that the Bidayuh cultural history had existed for a long period of time prior to the mining days.
“I hope one day, we can write the history of Bidayuh civilization like the Chinese who have a history of 5,000 years’ civilization,” he said.
Also present were Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep, Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang, Deputy State Secretary Datuk Ik Pahon and other dignitaries.
