KUCHING: The Sarawak Premier's Department 2024 Gawai Dayak Celebration is a relevant and commendable platform to strengthen unity and cooperation among civil servants in line with Sarawak's civil service slogan, 'SCS One Team'.

Sarawak Deputy State Secretary (Administration) Datu Buckland Bangik said that such programmes could become a continuous tradition in the future to enhance understanding, appreciation, and respect for the cultural diversity that makes the state unique and special.

As the Chairman of the Gawai Dayak Celebration Management Committee of the Sarawak Premier's Department 2024, he stated that this year's celebration highlighted the cultural heritage of the Bidayuh community, demonstrating the solidarity among officers and staff of the Sarawak Premier's Department.

"If you entered earlier, you would have seen the Bidayuh dance 'Langgi Pingadap' performed to welcome the guests, which was presented by all our officers and staff from various units under the Sarawak Premier's Department.

"In addition, one of the most special events this Gawai is 'Dari Pogan' and 'Dayung Sangon,' which involved participants from all units of the Sarawak Premier's Department," he said during the Sarawak Premier's Department 2024 Gawai Dayak Celebration at the Atrium of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) here on Wednesday.

Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, was the guest of honour and to grace the programme.

Further commenting, he said that despite undergoing cultural integration evolution, the Gawai celebration still respects its original tradition, which is based on values of gratitude to God and sharing the harvest each year.

"In the spirit of this year's Gawai celebration, our concept is 'Ngabang Ke Rumah Panjai,' meaning each unit in the Sarawak Premier's Department can be likened to a room in a longhouse. The Sarawak Premier's Department is our longhouse.

"The Sarawak Premier's Department has six units, meaning there are six rooms and a 'tuai rumah' or village head," he explained.

At the event, the symbolic presentation of school equipment assistance was carried out by the Sarawak Premier to representatives of 25 students from SK Garland Batu Kawa, consisting of low-income (B40) families.

According to Datu Buckland, through this CSR programme, it was made possible through the contributions of 37 donors, including ministers, deputy ministers, honorable members, department heads, and senior officers from the Dayak community.

Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, Sarawak Minister for Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, Sarawak Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, and Sarawak Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.

Also in attendance were Sarawak State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Sarawak Deputy State Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Datu Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, Sarawak Deputy State Secretary (Operations) Datu Hii Chang Kee, department heads, and other distinguished guests.-UKASnews