LUNDU: The DuanWu Festival (Bak Chang Dumpling) here has become a symbol of harmony and unity, as communities come together in the spirit of gotong-royong to prepare the traditional delicacy and celebrate cultural diversity.
Political secretary to the Premier of Sarawak, Abang Abdul Aziz Abang Draup, representing the Tanjung Datu assemblyman said this when officiating at the Jalinan Insan Wahana Aspirasi (JIWA) MADANI Programme in conjunction with the DuanWu Festival celebration at the Chung Hua Association Premises here on Saturday.
According to him, the DuanWu Festival is a tradition rich in historical, cultural, and family values, which should continue to be appreciated and carried on by future generations.
“Through the making of Bak Chang dumplings, we not only honour the spirit of unity and respect for history, but also cultivate the noble values embedded in this celebration,” he said.
He added that the MADANI community serves as an excellent platform to strengthen interracial relationships and ignite the spirit of togetherness among society.
“This dumpling also symbolises cultural sharing. Today, a total of 100 Bak Chang dumplings were prepared in a gotong-royong (communal effort) by members of the MADANI Community of Kampung Seketi Cina, consisting of both Chinese and Malay communities,” he said.
He pointed out that such programmes reflect the spirit of togetherness among the people in organising events across cultural diversity, making the festival a joyous and meaningful celebration.
“Moreover, this programme supports the effort to preserve local cultural heritage such as Bak Chang making so it will not be forgotten by the younger generation,” he said.
Aziz also emphasised that the success of this celebration was the result of strong cooperation within the MADANI community, making Lundu a district filled with harmony and interethnic love.
Meanwhile, principal assistant director of the Corporate Communication Media Division (BMKK), Sri Kestury Mohammed Zamhari, representing director of the Department of Information (JaPen) Malaysia Sarawak, said the role of the MADANI community is crucial in combating the spread of fake news and in choosing reliable sources of information.
“The MADANI community plays a major role in assisting the government to deliver accurate and verified information to the public,” she said.
The event also featured a sharing session with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) on cybercrime in the Lundu district, as well as a Rukun Negara appreciation session led by Lundu District information officer, Aishah Latip.
In addition, a colouring contest themed “Dragon Boat Festival and Bak Chang Dumpling” organised by the Chung Hua Association Lundu was held as a side activity.
