SRI AMAN: Local Dayaks here are reminded of the pioneering spirit and birth of Gawai Dayak on September 25, 1964.
Sri Aman Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) parliamentary coordinator, Norina Umoi Utot said that year, June 1 was declared as an annual public holiday to celebrate “Dayak Festival Day” in the Sarawak Government Gazette.
She said the public holiday was declared in recognition of the Dayak political contribution to the state of Sarawak.
“The euphoria of the youthful political spirit of some Dayaks in Kuching shot through the roof with a high hope and expectation of a bright and prosperous future in Malaysia.
“The Gawai Dayak ‘celebration’ then spread like wildfire among the Dayaks throughout Sarawak, and 55 years on, Gawai Dayak has become more of a social celebration rather than the pioneering spirit of Dayak Festival Day which was the original intent.
“I would like to take this opportunity to call upon all Dayaks to rejuvenate the pioneering spirit of Gawai Dayak of political recognition and to unite for our political resurgence and reclaim the lost opportunities and to claim our rightful place in the political arena,” she said.
“Ooohhhhh haaaa… Selamat Hari Gawai Dayak gayu guru, gerai nyamai, lantang senang nguan menua (Wishing you a happy Gawai Dayak, best of health and everlasting happiness),” she said before ending her speech.
