KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to attend the State-Level Gawai Dayak Dinner 2024 which is scheduled on June 22 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the 2024 Gawai Celebration Committee has officially invited the Prime Minister to attend the event.
Uggah who is also the Chairman of the Sarawak 2024 Gawai Dayak Celebration Committee, the ceremony will also be attended by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said, the dinner will also bring together Sarawakians from various backgrounds and as a symbol of the spirit of unity.
The committee also requested an allocation of RM1 million from the Prime Minister to help with the overall cost of organizing Gawai Dayak 2024.
In addition to the Gawai Dayak 2024 Dinner, Uggah said, several activities were also held for the Gawai Dayak 2024 Bazaar which ended yesterday at MJC Batu Kawa.
“The main objective of Bazar Gawai is to provide a platform for the community to sell their products and connect with other communities in Sarawak to engage in entrepreneurship, which generates income.
“Emphasizing their culture and economic activities, the focus is on creating a sustainable family income,” he said.
In addition, Uggah said, the 2024 Gawai Dayak Carnival will also be held in Siburan which will run from June 6 to June 8.
He explained that the Gawai carnival aims to promote the Gawai festival to the younger generation, ensuring the sustainability of the tradition.
Besides providing a platform for community celebrations, he added, it also offers opportunities for education, training and entrepreneurship within the community.
Among other activities organized is the 2024 Gawai Dayak Cultural Parade on the Kuching Cliffs which will take place on 15 June.
Uggah said that the parade will be held from Tun Jugah’s building up to Kuching Waterfront
“The parade will showcase the vibrancy of Dayak culture, an invitation to locals and international tourists to celebrate Sarawak’s cultural mosaic.
“It aims to foster unity across various social and economic layers,” he said.
In the meantime, Uggah said, Publication of eBooks and coffee table books, Tourism Brochures and Gawai Roadshows are being published.
Under this activity, he said, the committee members also submitted documentation about Gawai which is celebrated by Dayak groups namely Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu.
“Tourism brochures are also being developed and various promotional activities are being carried out at home and abroad in an effort to create awareness and attract tourists to Sarawak and Malaysia in general,” he said.
