Be Pro-Active In Preserving Culture, Minister Tells Dusuns

Bandar Seri Begawan - Members of the Dusun ethnic group in Brunei have been urged to take pro-active actions in preventing their culture and language from extinction.

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Hj Mohammad Hj Daud stressed that the nation`s culture and heritage needs to be safeguarded. "I believe, amongst the seven ethnic clans in this country, there are those whose dialects and languages face the threat of extinction. In this matter, I hope that all ethnic clans, including the Dusuns, can act pro-actively through strategic and insightful steps in protecting the culture and language from extinction," said the minister before a congregation of Dusun community at the International Convention Centre, yesterday.

Pure characteristics in the culture of ethnic clans can be accepted in the national culture, said the minister - as long as it does not clash with the national philosophy: Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB).

He then rallied a call to preserve the Dusun culture and language, saying that protecting the national culture and heritage is in line with the proposals put forward by world bodies such as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

He said UNESCO, amongst other world bodies, have proclaimed three important conventions: Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Culture and Natural Heritage 1972; Convention for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 2003; and the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression 2005.

"For example, amongst the six billion people in the world, there are 6,800 languages spoken in 190 countries and regions. From that number, only 3,000 languages can be written, and the rest only exist in the oral form and are already decreasing in speakers," the minister pointed out.

Pro-active actions to prevent extinction of culture and language can be referred to specialist institutions such as the Department of Language and Literature, the Museums Department or Universiti Brunei Darussalam as responsible bodies in handling such issues, he told the audience.

The latest census information available states that the Dusuns make up about a quarter of the population in Tutong District. Accurate statistics of the Dusun population in Brunei are very difficult to obtain, as confusion still arises on the use of the term `Dusun` in naming other ethnic groups, the PSJD official website states. In addition, Dusuns who have converted to Islam are categorised as Malays.

Source: www.brudirect.com
Credit Photo: sseaypbrunei.blogspot.com

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