KUCHING, Oct 6: Public speaking and debating on any topic in the Iban language is a great way to preserve the Iban’s identity and also to enhance their language, culture and tradition.
Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan said there was no other Iban race in existence accept in this part of the world; therefore, the Iban community must protect and defend their heritage.
“Our language must be allowed to flourish, and we must always speak our language as much as we can, especially our among the younger generation. That way, our Iban identity will always prevail,” he said at the second edition of the `Pekit Pidato UB Iban 2018’ (UB Public Speaking in Iban Language 2018) at Batu Lintang Institute of Teaching here today.
Snowdan said all Ibans must learn and speak their mother tongue fluently so as to preserve its existence.
“Of course, we must learn other international languages also, like English, to widen our linguistic knowledge and as a means to communicate with other races, but we must bear in mind our very own unique Iban language,” he said further.
On the public speaking competition, of which Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing is its patron, Snowdan lauded the organising committee from a local media group for making the competition a success. He later announced an allocation of RM5,000 for the committee to carry out their activities.
Nineteen people participated in the competition that was divided into three categories: Secondary Schools (under 17 years old), Public (under 35 years old) and Open. — DayakDaily
