KUCHING, Oct 21: The Dayak Cultural Foundation (DCF) is ready to help aspiring Dayak writers.
In a statement, its chairman, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, said there are still not enough books written on the culture, traditions, and even achievements of the Dayak community.
“We have many retired civil servants, including educationists, culture experts, and others among us, and those aspiring to write can contact DCF for assistance in getting your book published.
“DCF wants to preserve as many of our culture and traditions for the younger generation,” he said.
Uggah said this when launching an autobiography on the late Iban educationist Athelstance Alli Majang today.
The 286-page book is written by his son Datu Michael Dawi Alli, who is the Chief Registrar of the Native Courts Sarawak.
Meanwhile, in paying tribute to the late Alli, Uggah, who is also Deputy Premier, described him as a trailblazer among early Dayak educationists.
Uggah said the late Alli had started his education during the Japanese occupation of the State, including serving under Rajah Brooke, the British Colonial era, and the Malaysian government.
He pointed out that the late Alli had seen the importance of education to the new generation in rural areas.
“He had faced parents who did not exactly share his vision, aspiration, and hope because the education process was, after all, something out of the world to them.
“But the late Alli managed to convince them, and convincingly he did. Where there was no school, he was instrumental in helping to set up schools and then persuading parents to send their children to them,” he added.
According to Uggah, the late Alli’s struggles and commitments were most worthy of emulation by teachers and parents.
“For his immense contributions, the late Alli was selected as the ‘Tokoh Guru Sarawak’ in 1984, and the following year, he won the ‘Tokoh Guru Kebangsaan’ title,” he said. — DayakDaily
