By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Sept 28: The Dayak Bidayuh Literary Society (DBLS) will aggressively promote the community’s literary culture, especially reading among its youths.
Its president, Datuk John Tenewi Nuek, said DBLS believes that reading is the most important factor that determines a person’s progress and a critical determinant for leadership.
“Looking at history, it is clear that effective leaders were always avid readers. Therefore, we will promote this tradition within the community based on Bidayuh, English, Bahasa Malaysia and other languages.
“We must inculcate reading habit, encourage public speaking and other literary genres within the community,” he told a press conference here today.
Apart from reading, John said DBLS will conduct research, develop, publish, protect and disseminate literary materials produced by the Bidayuh community.
To pursue their objectives, DBLS have planned many activities including debates, story-telling, poem-writing and other related areas such as archiving medicinal plants, weaponry, agricultural, household, hunting and foraging implements traditionally used by the Bidayuh.
“DBLS is also engaging itself in its flagship project, writing a comprehensive research based book called ‘History of the Bidayuh’,” he continued.
DBLS was officially registered with the Registrar of Societies on Aug 6, this year. They encourage all Bidayuh, aged 13 and above (youth and adult memberships) to join the society.
While DBLS is a distinct Bidayuh NGO, John said it seeks to work with other non-Bidayuh NGOs in the pursuit of common literary interest. — DayakDaily
