29/05/2026

FRIDAY | MAY 29, 2026

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Dayak community strives to preserve Gawai traditions

Journalists final defence against misinformation, say experts KUALA LUMPUR: As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates the spread of unverified content online, communication experts have said mainstream media and professional journalists have become the critical buffer between the public and the information that could destabilise national security and social harmony. Universiti Malaysia Sabah Communication Programme head Dr Aisah Meri said the role of journalists has fundamentally shifted from simply reporting events to actively verifying information before it reaches the public. She described mainstream media as an essential gatekeeper in the digital space, particularly as social media platforms amplify content designed to provoke emotional responses, stoke racial tension and erode confidence in national institutions. “Digital platform algorithms today prioritise interaction over the authenticity of information, which is why the media must be better prepared to face the new challenges.” On the threat posed by deepfakes and AI-generated content, Aisah said media organisations could no longer afford a conservative approach. She said journalists need to be equipped with digital forensic skills and content verification tools while newsrooms must establish clear ethical guidelines on the use of AI in reporting. Universiti Malaya senior lecturer Dr Muhammad Zaiamri Zainal Abidin said rebuilding public trust remains a pressing challenge, with some segments of society still viewing media institutions as politically influenced. He called for greater investment in media literacy, adding that the public need to understand how professional verification differs from unfiltered citizen journalism. Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris lecturer Dr Ahmad Sauffiyan Abu Hasan urged mainstream outlets to be more aggressive on social media, mastering algorithm strategies to ensure verified content reaches wider audiences. He cited an MIT study finding that emotionally-charged fake news spreads six times faster than accurate information. The remarks were made in conjunction with National Journalists’ Day. – Bernama

KUCHING: As preparations for Hari Gawai gather pace across Sarawak, concerns are growing over the gradual fading of traditional Dayak customs and rituals amid changing lifestyles and modern influences. Former Sarawak Customs Council research assistant Philip Igai said today’s Gawai celebrations differ greatly from those held between the 1960s and 1980s, when rituals and traditional practices played a much bigger role in the festivities. He said one of the main reasons many rituals are no longer widely practised is the change in religious beliefs among the Dayak community, particularly after many embraced Christianity. “In the past, there were more traditional elements such as Gawai Umai and Gawai Tuah , which involved elders and various customary rituals.” Philip, 76, a former teacher, said Gawai organising committees at longhouses are now focusing more on activities that appeal to young individuals to encourage greater participation in the celebration, such as sepak takraw and futsal competitions as well as karaoke activities. “Even so, efforts to preserve cultural heritage are still ongoing. In Betong, for example, there are clubs and associations helping young people learn traditional cultural arts.” He said although some customary practices have diminished over time, Hari Gawai (celebrated on June 1 and 2) continues to symbolise the identity and o ‘Celebrations today differ greatly from those held between 1960s and 1980s, when rituals and traditional practices played a much bigger role in festivities’

Philip said Gawai organising committees at longhouses are now focusing more on activities that appeal to young individuals to encourage greater participation in the celebration. – BERNAMAPIC

unity of the Dayak community, which comprises nearly 30 ethnic groups in Sarawak, Bernama reported. He said efforts to elevate Gawai Dayak into a national-level celebration have been discussed since the early 1960s by leaders such as the late Datuk Seri Tra Zehnder. “Before it was officially recognised, the Dayak community celebrated various Gawai festivals according to their respective ethnic groups as a sign of gratitude to God for a bountiful harvest, although the dates differed according to local customs and areas. “After the formation of Malaysia in 1963, Sarawak’s first chief minister Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan agreed for the festival to be gazetted, and the first official Gawai Day celebration was held on June 1, 1965.” Philip said preparations for Gawai usually begin days before June 1 through special meetings to form organising committees at longhouses. “May 30 usually begins with food

preparation such as slaughtering chickens, cooking lemang and other traditional dishes. “On the morning of May 31, longhouse residents begin laying mats along the ruai (veranda that runs the entire length of a longhouse) as a sign that the actual Gawai celebration has begun. Some also take the opportunity to visit family graves.” He said on the night of May 31, residents gather at the ruai for the Gawai ceremony, accompanied by the sound of the gendang rayah , a special ceremonial drum played during the celebration. “There is also the berayah ceremony, in which representatives from each family room walk around the ruai wearing traditional attire and carrying parang as a symbol of custom and tradition. “As midnight approaches, the Gawai chief delivers a speech and at exactly 12.01am on June 1, all longhouse residents drink air pengayu as a symbol of the beginning of the new Gawai year before shaking hands as a gesture of forgiveness.”