Joint Gawai Kaamatan Festival 2007

29 June, 2007

Penampang: The inaugural Joint Gawai Kaamatan Festival 2007 which was held on 16th June 2007 in Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and themed "Networking Increases Your Networth" marked another milestone for networking for members of DCCI and KCCI and in bringing the two communities of Kadazandusun and Dayaks together.

"The first ever joint celebration was launched by YB Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Minister in Prime Minister's Department and attended by some 200 DCCI and KCCI members and invited guests including DCCI's President, YBhg, Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi Jugah,KCCI's President , Mr. Frederick Edwin Lojingki, and Tenaga Nasional Berhad(TNB) Chairman, YBhg. Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leo Moggie Irok.

In his message in the Souvenir Programme Book, YBhg. Datuk Amar Linggi described the occassion as great opportunity to get together socially to signify solidarity and to engage in more meaningful dialogue in pursuit of economic progress and advancement for members in particular and the communities as a whole, not forgeting the way forward in the new millennium through avenues such as the Chambers which have been specifically set up to assist in the development of Bumiputera entrepreneurship, especially Kadazandusun and Dayaks.

In simillar message, Mr. Frederick Edwin Lojingki described the occassion as the "opportunity to further strengthen networks among the members of the two Chambers in order to discover that power of unfair advantage known to be the Holy Grail in business".

The organising committee led by YBhg. Datuk Ajit A. Galun, Naib Yang Di Pertua KCCI did a splendid job to make the occassion a memorable one for everyone present. The programme was packed with fun-filled activities involving almost all the guests to participate in traditional dances, Kadazandusun Sumazau & Iban Ngajat and traditional drinks(both from Kadazandusun and Dayak) sipping sessions and other programmes.

In their speeches during the Dinner, both Presidents of the two Chambers pledged to continue to work together through a proposed joint working committee on a permanent basis for the common benefits of their members.

In his speech, former Federal Minister and Chairman of Tenaga Nasional Berhad(TNB), YBhg. Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leo Moggie reiterated that the Dayaks and Kadazandusun still need to be given special attention to get a fair race in the economic development. Natives from Sabah and Sarawak were not able to fully participate when New Economic Policy (NEP) was launched for reason that most of the Dayaks and Kadazandusun then lacked knowledge and education compared to presently where many of them could go far if given the strong support like in the NEP. Towards this end , he said discontinuing the NEP and going for meritocracy would be a disadvantage for the natives in Sabah and Sarawak as they are still not at the same level to compete.

Responding to the speeches by the speakers, YB Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the Government, particularly in the Ninth Malaysia Plan, had specifically put in place special plans for the natives communities in Sabah and Sarawak. He added that a Unit called the "Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU)" under the Prime Minister's Department was also setup with the function of looking after the interest of the Non-Malay natives in East Malaysia. He said the Government could assist in paving the way by providing a condusive business environment for the Dayaks and Kadazandusun communities but it was up to themselves to work hard to look for opportunities and then success.

The setting up of the "Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) in the Prime Minister's Department to look after the interest of the Non-Malay natives in East Malaysia was indeed a result of the tireless joint efforts by the two Chambers, involving several discussions and meetings in Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur culminating in some 2,000 Non-Malay natives from East Malaysia attending the first Bumiputera Minorities Economic Congress (BMEC) 2005 held in Kuala Lumpur. Through the joint specific resolutions presented to YAB Dato' Sri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister, the Federal Government has been made more aware of the plight of the Dayak and Kadazandusun business communities. The two Chambers are vey grateful to YB Tan Sri Bernard Dompok for his assistance in pursuing the creation of ICU with the Federal Government.