My comments on the implementation of Central Database Hub (PADU)

Recently I have voiced out Sarawak's government reservations on the implementation and requirement for our folks to complete registration on the Central Database Hub (PADU). Our state government has its own reservations on this...it was discussed in the recent cabinet meeting. For Sarawak we have asked for it to be modified.

But I have also mentioned our state government is not saying that it is against PADU and will support it if it has good intentions. Of course we will support but if there’s ulterior motive, we will not be happy.

On a personal note, I have deemed the database’s need for detailed personal information such as bank accounts and housing loans as akin to stripping citizens naked. Personally, I believe there must be a slight change for the state. For PADU, I see something like what we have before – e-Kasih. Why do you keep on wanting to change, two to three years the system keeps changing?

The moment you fill in, you ‘bogelkan diri sendiri’ (strip yourself naked). Practically everything – your bank account, your house, everything! I don’t think that is a proper way to treat your citizens.

If PADU is meant to help the poor, let them fill it in, those receiving government aid can fill that in; but you don’t go across the board and say everybody must fill it in. I have also questioned the real purpose behind PADU’s implementation, adding that the data could be exploited for political purposes.

Personally, I feel that we shouldn’t rush through things. Look into the details, why do we need this? Is it because you want to help the poor or is it because you want to know how many people in a village? That’s the role of the Statistics Department.

Back then we have e-Kasih to search for those who are poor, why do we need Padu? It is more or less the same. Just that in Padu, if you don’t fill it in, the aid recipients may miss out. If so, we can always source it elsewhere and we don’t need to do PADU. However, those registered under the Welfare Department should register with PADU.

Welcoming our guests from Wakayama State University of Japan

It was a pleasure to have met Dr Mitsugi Motoyama, President of Wakayama State University in Japan who is in Kuching recently for a visit. Dr Mitsugi is in the city together with a delegation from Wakayama University and they have signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

hashtand i-CATS University College.

We hosted dinner for the visitors recently and among those who were also present were Datu Hii Chang Kee, Deputy State Secretary of Sarawak; Datu Sherrina Husaini, Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP); i-CATS Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr Shahren Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce; Vice Chancellor of UNIMAS, Professor Dr Ahmad Hata and Director of Wakayama University's Center for Tourism Studies, Professor Etsuko Higashi.

Getting excited with 6th edition of "What About Kuching" (WAK) Festival 2024

We are excited with the forthcoming 6th edition of “What About Kuching” (WAK) Festival 2024 that will have satellite mini-festivals to be held in Sibu next June and Miri in August. These two new venues will extend the cultural extravaganza to our creative communities in central and northern parts of Sarawak.

Thus, our creative communities throughout Sarawak are also invited to seize the opportunity by participating and submitting their proposals for this year’s WAK.

The staging of WAK will enable us come together to transform the month of October into a spectacular showcase of artistic innovation and cultural exchange. Since its inception in 2017 as a grassroots festival featuring 57 unique events and 48 collaborators, the annual WAK Festival had evolved into a significant cultural force, drawing an audience of 277,766 in 2023.

The WAK Festival has always been a community-driven month-long open access celebration of the arts, culture and lifestyle. Happening every October, our local folks had always look forward to the multi-genre programme is centred around Kuching with the celebration mood felt all over. It has the potential to become one of the world’s biggest arts and culture festivals much like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland.

Commending our media friends for their community related initiatives

I have commended our media friends from Pertubuhan Wartawan Bebas Kuching (Pewarta) and DayakDaily for having continue to work together with Business Events Sarawak (BE Sarawak) for the third year to bring secondhand books to our folks in rural areas.

They have also expressed the hope of setting up reading corners and libraries for the residents in some of the remotest parts of Sarawak. The first programme they had jointly undertaken was the "Gift of Love" which was launched in 2016.

The community related programme is a good way for the business event industry to connect with local communities and create a positive reading culture among children and teenagers by improving their access to educational resources. 

Dayak Daily first collaborated with BE Sarawak and Pewarta in 2022 to deliver over 1,000 books to SK Lusong Laku for the Penan children while in 2023 there were 1,000 storybooks and two big bags of soft toys to the Orang Ulu community in Ulu Belaga. 

For this year, over 1,000 secondhand books and three boxes of soft toys are to be delivered to the Long Latei Penan Service Centre in Ulu Baram which will bring smiles and empower young minds in rural Sarawak through the provision of secondhand books.

Over 200 tourism related events & activities in Sarawak's Calendar of Events 2024 (CoE2024)

There are over 200 tourism related events which are scheduled to be held throughout Sarawak in this year’s Calendar of Events (CoE2024). The ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) Sarawak had listed only 88 events in their CoE2024 but others will be announced via press conferences later. T

he listed events will include film production events, sports events, food and culture events, and many others. Thank to the ministry for having invited me to chair the recent State Tourism Steering Committee Meeting and also to launch the CoE2014 as well as the “Quick Facts Book 2023”.

The listed events will include our iconic Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), Borneo Jazz Festival (BJF), Sarawak Regatta, International Dragon Boat Race and many more. In our concerted effort to meet the targeted tourist arrivals, we plan to host a plethora of exciting events every week.

These events will showcase the rich cultural tapestry, culinary delights, and natural beauty that Sarawak has to offer which include prominent events such as the various regattas around the state and the Rainforest World Music Festival, which have historically attracted substantial interest from tourists worldwide.

The comprehensive events calendar aims not only to boost tourist numbers but also to ensure that visitors have a memorable and immersive experience during their time in Sarawak.

Meeting our media friends in Internationale Tourismus Boerse (ITB), Berlin 2024 in Germany.

Our thanks to media friends who took their time to interview me during the Internationale Tourismus Boerse (ITB), Berlin 2024 in Germany.

Among those who had interviewed me were namely Karen Leerchi from Tourism Lifestyle Magazine, Wolfgang Konig from Berlin Radio, Ines Norden of Tourist Austria International Magazine and Oliver Graue of FVW.

I have also cordially invited them to visit Sarawak and experience themselves of our Sarawakian hospitality as well as the unique tourism attractions.

Renewed Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) between Sarawak Tourism Board and Tischler Reisen (TR)

We congratulate the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) for having signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with German tour operator Tischler Reisen (TR) at this year’s world largest tourism trade fair, Internationale Tourismus Boerse (ITB) Berlin, Germany to raise Sarawak's profile among European travellers.

Under the partnership, TR will help promote Sarawak with offline and online tour packages through its network of 600 agencies across Germany.

Sarawak aims to amplify its attraction as one of the popular tourists destination, inviting global travellers to embark on a journey of discovery and inspiration. In 2023, Sarawak had received a total of 57,496 European travellers which is an increase of 121% from previous year.

The Europe market's performance last year also showed a recovery of 81.5% compared to 2019, when Sarawak recorded its highest number of European visitor arrivals.

Great response to Sarawak's participation in Internationale Tourismus Boerse (ITB)" in Berlin, Germany

It was a delightful event and we thank all guests who have attended the official opening of #sarawak “Gateway to #borneo” pavilion at this year’s world largest tourism trade fair, "Internationale Tourismus Boerse" (ITB) which started on March 3 in Berlin, Germany.

The pavillion's set up was among the attractions at ITB and it will continue to elevate Sarawak’s prominence among the countries taking part in this year’s event. The pavilion itself aims to showcase Sarawak’s diverse attractions that will entice discerning travellers across Europe.

Sarawak aims to position itself as the preferred destination for European tourists through its new "Gateway to Borneo" campaign which can position our state as the main gateway to Borneo, which also includes Sabah, Kalimantan and Brunei.

Through this campaign, Sarawak aims to amplify its allure as a prime destination, inviting global travellers to embark on a journey of discovery and inspiration," it said in a statement. For the record, Sarawak had received 57,496 European travellers last year, an increase of 121% from the previous year.

Europe market's performance last year also showed a recovery of 81.5% compared to 2019, when Sarawak recorded its highest number of European visitor arrivals. Sarawak is therefore optimistic of surpassing 2019 levels in terms of European arrivals this year.

Countering criticisms on Premier of Sarawak by social media influencer

The local folks in Sarawak had chided the social media influencer named "Bozz Jebat" who had wrongly criticised and condemned our Right Honourable Premier of Sarawak through a video recording posted on social media on February 29.

I have refused to comment further on the video but numerous Police reports were made throughout Sarawak that condemned such actions.

In the video recording, Bozz Jebat had satirized and insulted Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari for having appointed Dato Sri Tiong King Sing as the Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) in which such appointment is made by our Prime Minister.

Even though our country practices freedom of speech, we should not use social media platforms to attack and insult others. He has no right to criticise us and our leaders who had done a lot for all Sarawakians...who is he (Bozz Jebat) when compared to Abang Jo.

Giving our full support to our national diving queen, Datuk Pandelela Rinong Pamg

Despite being dropped from Malaysia’s Road to Gold (RTG) program, Sarawak-born national diving queen, Datuk Pandelela Rinong Pamg can still compete in other competitions and is still in our nation’s  Podium Program.

I have given my comments on this matter recently and the RTG program was established by the Federal Government’s Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) for Malaysians to win gold at the Olympic Games.

When athletes fail to qualify for the Olympic Games, it is up to the committee to decide whether they should still participate in the program but despite being dropped from the RTG Program, it does not mean that Pandelela cannot represent the country.

In the national Podium Program, Pandelela can still represent Malaysia and can compete in regional competitions such as the Southeast Asia (SEA) Games and then win the competition.

We have many back-up athletes but so far (no one) can beat her now. This is where I think the association needs to play their part in training more divers to replace Pandelela when she retires later.

My comments on the increase of Sales & Service Tax (SST)

I have urged local tourism industry players to manage the of Sales and Service Tax (SST) properly to make sure that the proceeds will go to the Federal Government’s coffer that will be used to administer our country.

Our local media friends had requested my comments on this matter recently because the tourism sector and hospitality services are among affected by the increase in the SST from 6 to 8 per cent. These include hotels and accommodation, karaoke centres, massage parlours, night joints and private clubs, golf clubs and hire car/charter buses and domestic flights.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) had recently announced that the new rate only focuses on discretionary activities and business-to-business services. It will therefore shield the public from paying higher consumption tax for key essential services that include food and beverage, telecommunications, parking and logistics.

In relation to that, our Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak will monitor the impacts of the increase to the SST on the state’s tourism industry.

It is premature for his ministry to assess the increase from 6 to 8 per cent that took effect on March 1.

Whether the increase is justifiable or not or whether it is a burden or otherwise, we will see how it goes from today and if it is not a burden, then it is good, but if it is a burden, then we will need to see and decide how to reduce the burden.

However, the increase is unavoidable as the government must run the country with funds generated from such taxes. Of course, initially, the people will make a lot of noises, but after a week or two, they will forget about it.

I have also expressed hope for those involved in the tourism industry not to take the opportunity of the increase, such as not paying the tax to the government even though there are some joints who are allegedly doing that.