BY SARAH HAFIZAH CHANDRA & ALVERDTEKOSTER ANYAP
BAU: It is imperative for the Dayak community to commemorate and celebrate their history as it not only serves as a guiding light for the community’s future but also fosters harmony within.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan said the Bung Bratak Day celebration is a good example of remembering and respecting one’s history and culture.
He said such commemorative events provide the community members, especially the youth, to know and understand the struggles that their ancestors went through.
“We must respect our history and culture as it guides us towards our future apart from building harmony in the community. While people may have heard about Bung Bratak, they may not know about the historical significance that the place holds.
“So, celebrations like the Bung Bratak Day allows the Bidayuh community and the public to learn more about the history of the place as well as the Bidayuh people.”
He made these remarks when officiating at the Bung Bratak Day on Wednesday (May 1).
Snowdan commended the Bung Bratak Heritage Association (BBHA) on their efforts of preserving the history, culture, and tradition of Bidayuh people.
He said these efforts are crucial to ensure that the legacies of the Bidayuh people will always be imparted to the younger generation.
“I can see how determined BBHA is in this endeavour. We must help our youngsters to embrace and upkeep our culture, customs, and traditions.
“This is because there is stability in any community when its culture is intact and strong. As such, promoting one’s culture, custom, and traditions is shared responsibility that we must continue to work on.”
Touching on the overwhelming number of visitors turning up for the Bung Bratak Day, Snowdan suggested for the BBHA to look into upgrading its road infrastructure to ensure smooth traffic flow.
“Improving road infrastructure would not only ease traffic congestion but also enhance the overall experience for visitors.”
