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KUCHING, June 19: The Sarawak government is urged to promote cultural events such as a ‘Ngajat’ (native dance) festival, ‘Bikoto’ (martial art) festival, and ‘Gong Beating’ festival, which promote healthy lifestyles, rather than a ‘tuak’ (rice wine) festival, which may contribute to the misuse of alcohol.
According to the co-founder and Pinumbu’ of Bulang Birieh Dayak, Alim Giovanni Adlim Mideh in a statement, he disagreed with Sarawak holding a tuak festival formally, referring to Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) Sarawak deputy minister Datuk Sebastian Ting’s statement on the ministry considering holding a tuak festival as a platform to promote the state’s product, as well as its culture.
“As the leader of Bulang Birieh’s 2,500 Dayak members, I do not agree that such an event should be held formally.
“After all, all of the other Dayak festivals—Gawai, and cultural rituals—have already been utilised by Dayaks to promote and indulge in alcoholism.
“Although drinking alcohol in moderation or for the purpose of ‘adat’ practices is acceptable, many people abuse it,” he asserted.
Alime opined the already abundant availability of beer and liquor is already bad for the Dayak community, which suffers in terms of economy wellbeing, morale, productivity, and health.
“I am of the opinion that this trend of easy availability of cheap beer and liquor in Dayak areas is being engineered on purpose by unseen political hands in order to politically kill the fighting spirit of Dayaks.
“Instead of the tuak festival, the government should promote other forms of healthy cultural activities, such as what the organisers of the 722 Sarawak Day did in the Bung Orad festival on July 22, 2022, when they included 1,000 Ngajat as one of the events.
“So, the government should go for the Ngajat festival, Bikoto festival, and Gong Beating festival.”
Furthermore, Alim emphasised that if the intention was to create spillover effects, tailors, transporters, restaurants, and PA suppliers will all benefit from additional opportunities.
“Bravo to the organiser of the just concluded ‘Niti Daun’. This is a good festival, and not a tuak festival.
“There are still other better alternatives to a tuak festival,” he added. — DayakDaily
