Hari Gawai BBC Style

TO USHER in the Hari Gawai celebrations, the Borneo Baruk Club (BBC) hosted a two-night theme party complete with a blowpipe competition and traditional dances in Kuala Lumpur recently.

BBC floor staff members, clad in loincloths, pua kumbu vests and feathered headgear, could have been mistaken for a tribe of Dayak warriors.

The music was suggestively hypnotic with the peal of traditional percussions playing over the sound system. For the imaginative, the ethnically-themed interiors and ceremonial-styled columns of the building facade would play a part in lending an authentic feel to the whole affair.

Old and new: The interior is an interesting blend of traditional and modern.

As it is, the word baruk in the Bidayuh language means the circular part of the longhouse where human skulls are kept.

The mee kolok (egg noodle with beef strips and chicken broth) might not have tasted like the real thing and the rice wine might not have been as potent as a home brew, it was still an enjoyable two nights for revellers.

“There are close to 150,000 East Malaysians working in the city and for those who cannot go back for the Hari Gawai celebrations, coming to Kuala Lumpur reminds them of home.

“As it is, they are very proud to see that the BBC has chosen to project their local culture,” Melvin Francis, 46, said.

Melvin explained that he was aware of the spiritual aspects of the celebration and said BBC had taken utmost care to ensure that all sensitivities were looked into.

Traditional finery: Employees were dressed in their best over the two nights.

Modestly describing the Gawai party as a small scale do, Melvin said the BBC already had plans to make this a yearly affair and, already, they were on a quest to look for contestants to walk away with the Miss Borneo Baruk crown for 2009.

For those who are interested to see more of Borneo’s rich culture, the BBC has on and off promotions featuring sape players, cultural shows and traditional dances from Sarawak.

The nine-month-old club, which can accommodate 1,500 people is endorsed by the Tourism Ministry and is a stopover for tourists who make up about 30% of its clientele. On regular nights, the BBC plays mainly old school music mixed with a touch of retro.

BBC is located at 1, Jalan Kia Peng, Kuala Lumpur. Beauty pageant hopefuls,call 03-21480015.