People in tribal costumes perform traditional dances for Gawai celebrations. — Reuters picKUCHING, June 1 — The Dayak community in Sarawak today celebrated the Gawai Dayak festival on a moderate scale, but a joyful one by keeping alive the tradition of visiting close family members and going to open houses.

Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin and Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, accompanied by their wives, also joined in the celebration by visiting the homes of the Dayak community leaders.

They also went to the home of Industrial Development Assistant Minister Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie at Taman BDC near here.

Others who went to Nansian’s home were State Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and Mas Gading Member of Parliament Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe.

Nansian hoped that this Gawai celebration would help to restore unity among the Dayak community in Sarawak.

By keeping alive the tradition of visiting one another, it could bring relations among the Dayak community, as well as with other races in the state, closer, he added. — Bernama