Gawai Dayak Bazaar to be an annual event – Masing

Masing (fourth left) and others on the main stage prepare for the gimmick to officially close the event.

KUCHING: The inaugural Kuching Gawai Dayak Bazaar which ended last night (May 22), will not be the first and the last to be held in Kuching.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing said he and other Dayak elected representatives will contribute financial allocations to ensure the event can be held annually.

He also said the bazaar provided ample business opportunities for the Dayaks to earn more money for the festivity, much like Ramadan Bazaars and Chinese New Year Bazaars have benefited the Malay and Chinese communities all this while.

“Before this, not many people saw Gawai Dayak as a business opportunity despite it being already celebrated for so many years. With this Gawai Dayak Bazaar, we the Dayaks can have the opportunity to make more money for ourselves and at the same time raise the profile of this festivity,” he said at the closing of Kuching Gawai Dayak Bazaar last night.

A Dayak NGO called Gagasan Anak Dayak Sarawak (GADS) organised the Kuching Gawai Dayak Bazaar at MJC Batu Kawah new township on April 30.

GADS is also the prime mover in organising the first-ever Gawai Dayak Bazaar which was in Miri last year, and have plans to organise more in other places statewide.

On another matter, Masing who is also Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president, said he and other Dayak elected representatives welcome constructive criticism in order to better serve the community.

As such, he advised the newly elected Dayak elected representatives not to be scared of being corrected by the people if what they have done is deemed wrong.

“You (the people) may have been critical of these YBs (elected representatives). When you’re being critical of us, please be constructive in your criticism. (In my case), I stand to be corrected if I have done wrong,” he said.

Also present at the function were Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) president and Julau MP Datuk Joseph Salang, Kanowit MP Datuk Aaron Aro Dagang, First Infantry Division Commander Major General Datuk Stephen Mundaw, newly elected Dayak assemblymen Wilson Nyabong, Christopher Gira and Allen Siden Gramong as well as Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang.

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