Awg Tengah: Lawas Kedayan Makan Tahun Festival a display of cooperation among villagers in enhancing income

MIRI (Nov 3): The annual Lawas Kedayan Makan Tahun Festival symbolises the spirit of cooperation and commitment among villagers in the area, particularly in helping each other enhance their income, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

He said this festival is usually held after rice harvesting.

“This is something I think is important, as it is a symbol of always making extra efforts and commitment to work on something that can increase our and our family’s source of income,” he told reporters after visiting the festival site at Ulu Merapok Mini Service Centre on Friday.

The Kedayan Makan Tahun Festival is a cultural event of the Kedayan community where various cultural events, traditional food and arts are shown to visitors.

Meanwhile, Awang Tengah disclosed Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has emphasised increasing the productivity of rice production through a large-scale rice planting pilot project in Gedong.

He said following this, Limbang, Lawas and Miri have been identified for the rice planting project for the northern Sarawak region.

“The government is providing infrastructure facilities for this mega project, especially in the aspects of irrigation and systematic drainage,” he said.

Accompanying Awang Tengah to the festival was his wife Dato Dayang Morliah Datuk Awang Daud and among those present were Political Secretary to Sarawak Premier Awangku Jinal Abedin Dato Pengiran Jawa; Lawas Kedayan Assocation president Haris Majid; Temenggong Rosli Majid and other dignitaries.