A day with the singing, dancing Nancy Shukri

SIMUNJAN: It was “poco-poco” time with Nancy Shukri in Batang Sadong. The federal minister and local MP was hanging loose on a constituency visit. “If you are an MP here, singing is a talent that you need to develop because that will create fun among us.”

Instead of giving long speeches on her visit to meet her people, Nancy chose to have fun with Batang Sadong residents by singing and dancing “poco-poco” together.

Tuai Sili Anak Bungsi, a longhouse chief in Kampung Sungai Buluh, said Nancy always made a point to visit them although the location of her constituency is far away from Kuching.

“Singing and dancing together are our activities every time YB Nancy is here. Actually this time she (Nancy) is here just for awhile. Usually she will spend a longer time with us and continue singing more songs,” Tuai Sili told FMT here yesterday.

Nancy attended Program Semarak Perpaduan with local leaders and spent two hours at the longhouse. Also present were former Sarawak governor Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng, Simunjan assemblyman Awla Dris, and Sadong Jaya assemblyman Aidel Lariwoo.

Nancy sang and danced with about 10 other elderly people, who stepped up and did the “poco-poco” dance.

“This is our culture. Usually when you want to go out, they will pull your handbag and ask you to dance again. Actually what you saw just now was not much. This is normal for us here. This is one of the culture that we do not want to be taken away from us,” Nancy told FMT.

As a federal minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Nancy spends her time in Putrajaya during the week. An aide said the outspoken minister returns to the constituency every week to see how her people are doing.

“Sometimes if she (Nancy) didn’t get to go to Batang Sadong, she will be sad and say that she misses the place,” said the aide.

The outgoing minister, who is known to possess a sweet voice, called out to Sarawakians to treasure their colourful culture and to not let anyone disturb the peace and harmony that they have practiced for decades.

“Do Sarawakians want this culture to be taken away from us? We have a good life. We have a very peaceful and harmonious life here. “The people in the state are very well-versed with the way things are among themselves, the culture and the integration among us.

“You don’t really feel which person belongs to which race and religion. You saw us, we are so easy going with each other. So we hope to stick to that,” Nancy added.