COMMENT There has been a lot of talks about Sarawak - the land of the Hornbills - being the last frontier in Malaysian politics.

But, it is not surprising how much - in fact, I should say, how little - West Malaysians know about the Iban culture and the Pua Kumbu and the Gawai festival, which is celebrated on June 1 every year.

Most West Malaysian kids, especially those growing up in the urban cities of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, would never have truly experienced the beauty of the Pua Kumbu if not for the labour of love by one Bidayuh researcher, Dr Welyne Jeffrey Jehom.