The ‘Ramah Tamah Uniti Kaamatan dan Gawai’ programme held today provided opportunities and exposure to the people in the peninsula to appreciate the ethnic and cultural diversity of the Sabah and Sarawak communities.
Minister of National Unity Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique said the programme, held for the first time in the peninsula, is in line with her ministry’s Semarak Uniti Keluarga Malaysia agenda and is hoped to serve as platform to strengthen the bonds of unity and the spirit of national integration.
“The festive Tadau Kaamatan and Gawai Day celebrations that we celebrate today are symbolic of the spirit of unity which aims to foster the spirit of togetherness and closeness in accepting the cultural diversity of the Keluarga Malaysia which is the backbone to the sustainability, harmony and prosperity we have today,” she said.
She said this when officiating the programme, co-organised by her ministry and the Peninsular Borneo Children’s Association here today.
Halimah also proposed for the Peninsular Borneo Children’s Association to continue to cooperate with her ministry in organising more cross-cultural programmes thus strengthening the spirit of national integration among Malaysians.
Among the exciting activities lined up in the three-day event, starting June 23, were the Borneo cultural exhibition; Explorace Uniti Keluarga Malaysia; the Keluarga Malaysia cooking and traditional costumes competitions.
One of the exhibitors at the programme, Drothy James, 46, who sells clothing, beaded accessories and handicrafts from Sarawak, said the programme was a good platform to promote and introduce ethnic cultures from Sabah and Sarawak to the community in the peninsula.
Meanwhile, Kek Lapis Sarawak seller Halimah Oteng, 47, who has been living in the peninsula for almost 20 years, said such a programme should be continued so that more people could participate and learn about the culture of Sarawak and Sabah, especially the younger generation.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency