By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 24: Arielleo Darie Austin and Reyna Anis Griffin were crowned Keling and Kumang Sri Aman 2026, respectively, in a competition held in Sri Aman on Saturday night (May 23).
In a TVS report, Arielleo, who hails from Betong, said his victory proves that youth is not a barrier to success if one has the determination and commitment to learn and embrace their own culture.
“I want to be an example to other young people, encouraging them to be confident and brave enough to participate in cultural programmes like this, which offer invaluable experiences.
“They can learn about their customs, culture, arts, heritage and language so that Iban traditions remain relevant in the modern era,” he told TVS.
Arielleo, who has been passionate about the traditional ngajat dance since childhood, also expressed his intention to further refine his skills as part of his efforts to preserve Iban cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, Reyna, from Sri Aman, said her success was the result of hard work, discipline and strong family support, which motivated her to go further in the competition.
“Every journey requires effort and perseverance. Any challenges that arise must be faced with courage and resilience.
“Most importantly, we need to recognise our talents and interests and have the confidence to challenge ourselves at a higher level,” she said.
According to Reyna, the victory will serve as a steppingstone for her to remain actively involved in promoting Iban culture while encouraging young people not to forget their cultural heritage.
In the competition, the winners of the Keling and Kumang Sri Aman 2026 titles each received RM5,000 in cash, a sash, and a trophy.
The first runner-up (Laja category) title was won by Danny Joe Ujan, while Alywin Killarney Rentap Ugat finished third in the Bungai Nuing category.
For the women’s competition, Michelle Lumbie Langgang was named Lulong (first runner-up), while Lusiana Steward won the Selinggar Matahari category.
Winners of the Laja and Lulong categories received RM3,000, a sash, and a trophy, while winners of the Bungai Nuing and Selinggar Matahari categories received RM2,000, a sash, and a trophy.
All other contestants received a RM700 consolation prize and a trophy.
The Best Traditional Costume Awards were won by Joel Kenneth Rawing Babai (Keling category) and Julicia Jundak Sonny (Kumang category), with each receiving RM500 and a trophy. — DayakDaily
