KUCHING, Feb 11: Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil called upon the Iban community to preserve its heritage to ensure it does not get lost in the mists of time.
According to a news report by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas), Penguang said that the Iban community’s heritage, especially its traditional attire (‘Ngepan Iban’), should not be lost in time and the new generation must be aware of the history behind it.
“The Iban costume is our ancestral heritage and symbol, and the new generation and other races in Sarawak must be able to recognise it,” he said at the region-level ‘Simposium Ngepan Iban’ in Miri yesterday (Feb 10).
Penguang, who is also the chairman of the symposium’s committee and Marudi assemblyman, pointed out that the symposium is a platform to discuss how to develop and protect the Iban heritage to a higher stage.
He further explained that the symposium is also a place to exhibit contemporary attire based on the inspiration and motif of its traditional counterpart that could become a fashion trend in the future.
“Participants are to learn and further refine the traditional costume based on this year’s theme, which is ‘Ngepan Pesaka Bansa, Uyungkak Pemansang Ekonomi Bansa Iban’ (the traditional Iban attire and heritage as a catalyst for economic growth and development of the Iban community),” he said.
The two-day symposium was attended by 310 participants. — DayakDaily
