KUCHING, Jan 6: The Ministry of Education’s (MOE) repeated omission of Gawai Dayak as public holiday on June 1 in the academic calendar is unprofessional, if not intentional, says Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief said the subject is too huge a thing to be ignored, yet the omission which impacts the largest spectrum of Sarawak society – the Dayaks, had recurred.
Gawai Dayak as public holiday on June 1 every year has been gazetted since 1965, he stressed.
“What had caused it to be omitted for year 2021 and now 2022, again, if not intents.
“The drafter of the calender itinerary was far from being professional let alone sensitive to local festivities in a multiracial Sarawak,” he said in a statement today.
Snowdan, who is also Balai Ringin assemblyman and Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Assistant Minister said a checklist of all festivities should serve as a guide to avoid the same mistake again.
If professionalism is not to be argued in this matter, he urged the ministry not to intentionally ignore the sentiments of the Dayaks as such actions would mould sensitivities. — Dayakdaily
