Danison Manium
MIRI (July 6): Persatuan Anak Seni Sape’ Kuching (Pusak) has announced the appointment of Danison Manium as their new chairman, effective from July 4, 2021.
Danison will succeed Saufi Aiman Yahya, a renowned Sape player who initiated the idea on the formation and establishment of Pusak in 2018 before it came to fruition in 2020 after having enough committee members in order to form the NGO.
Saufi passed away at the age of 31 on June 10 after he was found lifeless on the floor of his studio office at City Square, Jalan Pending in Kuching. The cause of death has yet to be ascertained.
Danison remembers Saufi as a simple, straight-forward but far-sighted person.
“When he planned something, he knew very well about what he planned and what he would do.
“While he was our chairman, we had planned a lot of activities for Pusak and even the MCO (movement control order) did not stop him from finding ways to make things happen in our organisation for he had thoughts of the members not having any activities while staying at home.
“It is a big loss for us that he left on June 10, 2021,” Danison told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.
“We are still planning whether to set up something to remember him, yet to be confirmed. All these processes will go through various parties, especially from the family side,” he added.
The appointment of Danison as the new chairman for Pusak was unanimously agreed during an Extraordinary General Meeting conducted via Zoom and attended by over 20 registered members of the association.
During the meeting, some reshuffling of positions which had been agreed by all the members present were also made.
These include Dines Ngau Wan as deputy chairman, Sherlynna Parveen Deshon Kaman (secretary), Brandon Daby (deputy secretary) and Elizabeth Bungan Peter as treasurer.
Meanwhile, Justine Jarop Joseph, Mohd Affandi Abdullah and Elvin Jawol were appointed as ordinary committee members.
“Even though Sape is a traditional instrument of the Orang Ulu community in general, today we can see people of various backgrounds, races and nationalities have started to show their appreciation towards the musical instrument, with more people starting to play, teach and make the Sape,” said Danison.
“Through Pusak, we are looking forward to be a mediator to various organisations and industry players with the Sape activists in Sarawak to live out our aspiration; these Sape players, makers and instructors can empower themselves through aspects of social values, administrative role, education development, performance and quality development,” he added.
Pusak was registered as a society under Section 7 of the Societies Act 1966 and approved by the Registrar of Societies on January 23, 2020.
“The association was established with the aspiration of supporting local Sape’ activists to a higher level of social values, administrative roles and resource management, improving the quality of music performances and the development of Sape’ music education.
“We welcome all those who are interested in the art of Sape’ to register as members,” said Danison.