Sarawakians celebrate Gawai on a merry note post-May 9

There was a new ring of jollity as Sarawakians woke up to celebrate Gawai today.

Universal in its essence, yet with its own homegrown narrative, the Dayak community is celebrating Gawai this year with added fervour.

The largesse – a renewed feeling of elation - comes with the current “spirit of the times” as Malaysians everywhere try to come to terms with the thrilling aftershock of the May 9 general election which saw the jettisoning of the kleptocratic BN regime.

In his annual Gawai message, Sarawak PKR leader, Baru Bian, set the tone for this year’s high-spirited Gawai mood, saying Malaysians went through a very challenging and bitter election process.

“They had to battle many obstacles which the 61-year-old BN-ruled government had put in the way of a free and fair election,” said the Selangau MP.

"In the end, people’s power won the day. It was the aspiration of the people to elect a new government and by sheer grit and determination, they have given their mandate to a new government.

“Truly, we reap what we sow, " said Baru Bian, adding, “This year, we approach the Gawai season with an even greater sense of thanksgiving, having successfully brought about a change of government at the federal level.

Voters in Sarawak had expressed an “alternative sentiment” at the ballot box which had favoured the opposition front in the state.

This changing of the tide had increased the number of parliamentary seats for the Pakatan Harapan alliance triggering a triumphant euphoria among the Dayak community.

Now, post-election jubilation is palpable everywhere be it in the ruang (veranda) of the longhouses or in the rustic kampung and in side-street coffee shops.

In the home of the Madrods in Kampung Quop, a Bidayuh village 20km away in the outskirts of Kuching, the mood is festive, as an aromatic fragrance of a native speciality, ayam pansuh eludes from a makeshift wood fire.

Early child educator, Marilyn Madrod, is among the many Sarawakians who are “aware” of the newness of the political landscape both at the federal and state level.

“We in Sarawak are still under the BN government but there seems to be a new sentiment among the people now. What happened in Semenanjung may have an impact here in Sarawak,” she tells Malaysiakini today while attending to her guests.

“I hear people are looking forward to the state elections in 2021 to make things happen.

“Perhaps a change will happen. And maybe it will be good for us Sarawakians but I do not know […] only time will tell where we are headed with so many changes at the federal level,” adds Marilyn.

However, Marilyn’s cousin and colleague Sally Brown, also an early child educator tells Malaysiakini of her initial feelings on the morning after the election night.

“This is indeed a special Gawai for me. I was so excited in the morning after the general election. So many things came to my mind and I wondered what will happen after that,” says Sally who was among the early guests at Marilyn’s home.

“The very process of Malaysia changing its federal government for the first time made me nervous too. It all seemed so remote and far-fetched. It took some time for me, for the reality to sink in.

“Though Sarawak is under the old BN administration and is considered an opposition, I see this as an opportunity for us, Sarawakians, to be on our own.

“We can now make our own decisions, formulate our own policies and practice a ‘certain kind of autonomy’ to a larger extent,” says Sally.

'Harapan baru'

Sally has also noted the positive feeling among her friends and also her fellow villagers ever since the new MPs from the Harapan coalition touched base with the kampung-ites.

“In the last few days as we were preparing for Gawai, I was glad to see the new representatives from Harapan lending their support and helping us in the preparation of our events such as the Gawai beauty pageant, a Gawai concert and others.

“They came just like anyone of us, no protocol and no formalities. This is a refreshing change. There were no Datuks, Datins, Tan Sris and Puan Sris. Such titles only create a distance between people and politicians and I hope it stays this way,” she says.

Sally also noted that even people in the market and the shopping malls are excited about Gawai this year and that there is an upbeat mood in their spirit.

“Since Gawai is about the new harvest and new year, Sarawakians have added a new element, ‘harapan baru’ (new hope) for Gawai 2018.”

According to her, in the olden days, a day after the harvest (Gawai) also marked the beginning of the new year for the community.

“And if the harvest is plentiful, they will say in Bidayuh, ‘sawah ta jadi’ which means the year will be prosperous.

“My prayer now is that, with the new-found hope that we have in the Harapan coalition, our nation and state will prosper no matter what problems we face or will face in the future.

“And my prayer for my state government, no matter what happens, is to continue to be strong and let us face the new challenges together as the united people of Sarawak,” Sally says.

A corporate executive who only wants to be known as James says: “Gawai this year is very special and different for me. With the new political landscape at the federal level, we look up with new aspirations and a ‘harvest of plenty’ in all things good.

“God has blessed us very specially this year, but we as citizens too must bear in mind our own moral obligation to ensure our nation is free from all kinds of abuse and corruption,” said James.

Wilarmy Geniron Jebron, a retired civil servant, another guest at the home of the Madrods says Gawai is a celebration of unity and of people coming together. It marks the end of the rice harvest and a new year of aspirations for another harvest of plenty.

“This year we celebrate Gawai with the blessing of a new federal government. The new coalition government, Pakatan Harapan has a relevant connotation to the festive spirit of Gawai,” said Wilarmy.

“These words ‘harapan’ and its English equivalent ‘hope’ is what we cling on to when all else fails.

“These are words that comfort and heal that help us traverse difficult paths,” adds Wilarmy as she wishes: Sramat Anu Gawai Dayak ka soperug ngan! - Mkini