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By William Isau
SIBU, July 1: The addition of the ‘Itut’ will add a touch of Melanau heritage to the upcoming Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) 2023 from July 14 to 23 at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang.
Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) deputy chairman Mohammed Abdullah Izkandar Roseley said the traditional Melanau swing would be 43 feet high.
Mohammed Abdullah said the Sibu Melanau Welfare Society had been appointed to build and manage the ‘Itut’ this time, which started on June 28 with the help of about 20 volunteers.
“Preparations have already been made three months in advance because it is necessary to collect rattan from the forest in Tanjung Latap and wood from the roadside area of Kampung Banyok.
“The installation work is still underway and is expected to be fully completed next week,” he said after witnessing the ‘Itut’ installation at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang today.
Mohammed Abdullah added that the process of erecting the ‘Itut’ today is just the beginning of the tower’s construction work; the rest is up to them to ensure that it is safe for everyone to use during BCF later, adding that people can have a go at it after July 9 for free. — DayakDaily
