KUCHING: On the first day of the Gawai Dayak celebration, Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, shared the festive spirit by visiting the open houses of several Sarawak Dayak leaders today (June 1).
After attending the state-level Gawai Dayak open house at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) this morning, Wan Junaidi and his wife visited the residence of former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.
They were warmly welcomed by Jabu, his wife Tan Sri Empiang Jabu, and their son, Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak, Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu.
This was Wan Junaidi’s first visit to Jabu’s Gawai open house since his appointment as the eighth Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and his wife, Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, were also in attendance.
Abang Johari’s ‘ngabang’ Gawai visits then proceeded to the residence of Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (TROPI) director Datuk Dr Lulie Melling.
Accompanying Abang Johari at Dr Lulie’s residence were Minister of Works Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63, and Federal-State Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, and Sarawak State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki.
Wan Junaidi’s next ‘ngabang’ stop was the residence of Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil.
Upon their arrival, they were warmly welcomed by Dr Jerip and wife Datin Lee Chai Fong, and their family.
The occasion was enlivened by a welcoming dance performance from the Bung Siburan Heritage Association (BHA), accompanied by traditional Bidayuh music known as Gong Pedi and Gong Rejang Beuh.
