PADAWAN: This year’s Gawai celebration at Kampung Annah Rais was not only lively and festive but also left a meaningful message to its residents.
Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin reminded the Dayak community that the Gawai celebration only truly holds meaning when accompanied by a strong resolve and commitment to continue progressing.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Annah Rais Harvest Festival 2026 on Monday, Willie said that the Gawai celebration is fundamentally a thanksgiving ceremony for the harvest reaped from the community’s hard work and toil throughout the year.
“There is no point in celebrating Gawai every year if we remain stuck in the same old ways.
“We must look far ahead, we must move forward to carve out success,” he said firmly.
Willie also reminded the Dayak community not to be ashamed or hesitant to strive, stressing that a nation that is respected and held in high regard is one that has achieved success.
He spoke with great pride of how the Dayak community has already written its own history, with many Dayak sons and daughters having succeeded as scientists, lawyers, doctors and entrepreneurs.
He also made special mention of a Bidayuh who is now serving as a rocket scientist, an achievement he described as extraordinary and a source of immense pride.
Willie encouraged the younger generation of Dayaks to boldly venture into new fields such as aerospace, artificial intelligence and computer science, keeping pace with the rapid advancement of technology in today’s world.
“We must try new technology, explore and learn it. We must be brave enough to try new things,” he said.
However, Willie emphasised that the drive to move forward should never come at the expense of the community’s roots.
He urged the Dayak community to never forget their adat resam, identity, traditions and culture that have been passed down through generations.
“Only then will we truly become someone who fights for the fate of our people and our community,” he said.
