BETONG: Longhouse chiefs in the division play a pivotal role in preserving and promoting the Ibans' cultural inheritance.

Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said among them are the oral traditions of "berbiau", " beganu", " pengap" (forms of ritual chantings), "berpantun"( poem recital), the "ngajat"( dance) and the traditional Kuntau martial art.

"Efforts must be made not only to preserve but promote them, especially among the new generation. I hope our longhouse chiefs can come up with the relevant programmes in furtherance of this.

"Come the Gawai Dayak celebration, our youth can put performances featuring them. Then there is no danger of them slipping into oblivion," he said.

He said this in his speech as the guest of honour at a pre-Gawai Dayak gathering at the Betong Community Hall here on Sunday jointly organised by the Spaoh Longhouse Chiefs' Association and the Spaoh Paku Madani Community.

Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah also said these cultural activities had their own special attraction in tourism.

"Betong is now getting better linked to the outside world through the Pan Borneo Highway and soon, through the Bebuling Airport. Let us tap into our tourism sector.

"On this note, I would like to announce here that tender for the construction of the replica of our legendary hero, Rentap's fort, will be issued in a few months' time. This project is expected to cost RM16million for its first phase development."

During the event, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah announced grants totalling of RM60,000 for the Spaoh Longhouse Chiefs' Association to organise its cultural activities and to cover its expenditures.

He also announced another grant of RM10,000 to the Bukit Saban SIKAR Kuntau Group.-UKASnews