By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 12: Angelina Rani Gawan has been crowned the winner of Kumang Gawai 2025 at the Pengarami Makai Malam Mantar Gawai Dayak in Song last Saturday.
According to the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS), Angelina brought home RM4,000, a trophy, a crown, a sash, and accompanying gifts.
Agnes Sebai Hong Lee was in second place, while Jennifer Siba secured third place.
Kapit MP Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, who was present, said that the event is an essential platform in upholding the cultural heritage and identity of the various ethnic communities in Sarawak.
Speaking on the event as a whole, he said that he was pleased to see that this year’s celebration was packed with various cultural programmes such as the Niti Daun parade, traditional art performances, and a bazaar selling local food and handicrafts.
“Programmes like this are a golden opportunity for us to display traditional clothing and reintroduce traditional games such as ngajat, bepantun, and kuntau, that are increasingly forgotten,” he said.
Apart from strengthening the spirit of belonging, he said that such events also generate income for the local community through the sale of food and handicrafts at the Gawai Bazaar, which is held throughout the programme.
Commenting on the Niti Daun event, he praised participation from various communities such as the Iban, Malay, Chinese, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, and Indian communities.
In the meantime, he also touched on several development projects that are currently and will be implemented and called on the people to remain united and not be easily influenced by issues manipulated by certain parties on social media.
“We should not easily believe in news that is deliberately twisted to divide the unity of the people. Remain strong and united,” he said. — DayakDaily
