BETONG: A lass from Pakan, Lorna Lamban Walter was crowned the Kumang Gawai Betong 2023 after defeating seven challengers in the Pekit Kumang Gawai Betong 2023 which took place at the Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan Sports Hall on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old Unitarian Kuching student went home with RM10,000 in cash along with various other complementary prizes.
While Lulong Gawai was given to 19-year-old Ezayannie Loura Anyan from Sri Aman.
A student at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Kota Samarahan Campus, she won RM8,000 in cash along with various other complementary prizes.
Another student of UiTM Kota Samarahan Campus, Clara Amanda Buyong, 22, was crowned Gawai’s Selinggar Matahari.
Born in Batang Ai, Lubok Antu, she returned home with RM6,000 in cash and various other complementary gifts.
The Most Heartfelt Award was given to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) student Suria Sato Awi, 19, from Remabong Betong, who also received a prize of RM1,500.
Suria and four other finalists were also given consolation prizes of RM1,500 in cash each.
They are Catalina Paloma Tuah, 19 (Kapit), Anatasia Muthzie Angga, 23 (Kuching), Adlinea Alexander, 23 (Saratok) and Claudia Bintang Christopher Chiri, 27 (Betong).
The prizes were presented by Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu and his wife.
For the record, 28 participants from all over Sarawak joined Pekit Kumang Gawai Betong 2023.
Last year the title of Kumang Gawai Betong was won by project engineer Ullia Ulanda Rumpang.
During Pekit Kumang Gawai Betong 2019, it was won by private company administration executive, Mary Queen Ambrose Karim.
The title of Kumang Gawai Betong was also given to Frevirra Pearl Francis (2014), Steffi Debra Robinson (2015), Gracezilla Amanda Benjamin (2016), Lucynthia Liben (2017) and Sophia Benet @ Denot (2018).
