Colourful atmosphere at this year's "Pesta Benak" tidal bore festival at Simanggang town, Sri Aman

I had the opportunity to witness the launching ceremony of this year's "Pesta Benak" tidal bore festival which was held at the waterfront esplanade of Simanggang town in Sri Aman. The opening ceremony was graced by the honourable Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, the Deputy Premier of Sarawak.

The much awaited event had entered its 21st edition and there was an interesting line up of activities which include a regatta, Miss Tourism beauty pageant, a Fun Run and Fun Ride as well as a food fair plus sales stalls that were participated by small time business communities from as far as Kuching, Sibu and other divisions.

The closing ceremony of the three-day festival was graced by our Head of State, Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar who is accompanied by his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Binti Mohd Sanusi.

Thousands of our local folks together with visitors from other divisions throughout Sarawak had congregated in Simanggang town to show their support towards the annual event which is also included in our calendar of events and festivities.

Great time at official launching of the 22nd Latin American Film Festival in Kuching City

We had a delightful time at the opening day screening of the 22nd Latin American Film Festival in Kuching City which was held recently at GSC City One Mall of Jalan Tun Jugah, Kuching. The exciting film festival had been held annually in West Malaysia and this is the first time the organisers had decided to have it in Sarawak. 

It was an honour for me to have met the various ambassadors from Latin America to Malaysia who are also here in Kuching for the official launching of their film festival here. The ambassadors are from Cuba, Mexico, Colombia and Peru as well as the Charge d’Affaires of Uruguay. They include His Excellency Mr Florentino Batista Gonzalez from the Cuban embassy; His Excellency Mr Ricardo Morote Canales; His Excellency Mr Alejandro Rosselli Londoño from the Colombian embassy; His Excellency Mr Luis Javier Campuzano Piña from the Mexican embassy and Ms Lourdes Mariela Machado Gonzalez, the Charge d’Affaires at the Uruguayan embassy in Malaysia.

I am very happy that Latin American countries have considered Kuching for this event. This is an opportunity for us to foster cultural exchange, and I hope this won’t be the first and last time. Organising the festival could attract a local audience eager to learn more about Latin American culture through their films. I had thanked them for having invited me to grace the opening ceremony. I have mentioned in my speech on the potential for collaboration on tourism aspects between Latin American countries and Malaysia especially Sarawak.

I have also suggested for the travel agencies and airlines to consider include Latin American countries as tourist destinations, as these countries hold untapped potential for Malaysian travellers and vice versa. I have noticed Malaysian tourists rarely visit Latin America due to lack of packages offered among travel agencies which may not placed enough effort into promoting that region.

Despite not having enough long-haul flights posing a challenge for travel between these two parts of the world – possibly exceeding more than 24 hours in some cases  the experiences in countries like Uruguay, Peru, and Colombia will make the journey worthwhile. It is a fact that most Sarawakians will go to Europe, China, Korea, Japan, Turkey, or Australia but I have not seen many that go to Latin American countries. I think both sides have to make the effort for the benefits of both parties especially the people.

Meeting for selection committee of “Sarawak Youth Creative Industry Fund” (SYCIF)

This morning I had chaired the selection committee meeting for the “Sarawak Youth Creative Industry Fund” (SYCIF) which was held at Bako Meeting Room of the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Entrepreneurial Development Sarawak (MYSED), Level 16, Baitul Makmur II Building, Petra Jaya in Kuching City. The meeting was also attended by YB Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu, Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports & Entrepreneurial Development Sarawak and Tuan Morshidi Fredrik, Permanent Secretary to the ministry. We thank to all those who have applied for funds from this program which had received an encouraging response from our local youths. 

The fund was set up back in 2018 and offered under MYSED that aims to develop the raw talents of our local youth in the fields of arts and culture, especially music, film, drama, theatre, and more. The establishment of the fund will also be able to encourage the development and potential of the creative and innovative youth in Sarawak.The application for the fund is open to all Sarawakian youths aged 19 to 40, be it individuals, groups or organisations. However, it must be noted that the fund is specifically for those who want to polish their skills in the various fields stipulated and not for business-related purposes.

Memorable trip to Miri for SUKMA XXI Appreciation Dinner

Recently I received an invitation to grace the appreciation dinner in Miri that was organised for the volunteers and members of the various working committees members who were involved in the staging of competitions held in Northern region of Sarawak conjunction with the 21st edition of the Malaysia Games (SUKMA). 

My heartfelt thanks to the SUKMA Secretariat led by Datu Hii Chang Kee, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for having invited me to grace the event held at Meritz Hotel Miri which was also attended by over 800 people. In my speech, I have spoken on the important roles and functions of the volunteers and working committees members who are actually the “unsung heroes” serving behind the scenes. 

The staging of the various SUKMA’s competitions may not be successful without the hard work, commitment and dedication given my our unsung heroes. I have extended our heartfelt appreciation to the respective Residents at divisional level who had also contributed towards the successful staging of SUKMA competitions in areas of jurisdiction. 

Their wise leadership had prevailed even before the games started and the good feedbacks from the various athletes as well as their officials are testament of the quality outcomes from our services to the visiting competing state contingents.  

Factors that attract foreign tourists coming into our country

Recently I have shared my opinions and belief that it is the sense of security and personal safety, not language, as among the main reasons why international tourists come to Malaysia and including Sarawak. I have mentioned these to our media friends on the contributing factors which attracted tourists to come to Malaysia which is  the standard of security provided by the police and other agencies.

That is why we don't have many complaints from tourists that their safety in the country is being compromised. I have told our media friends when asked to respond to a statement by Federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing over Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) enforcement against Chinese-language signboards which should not be made into an issue.  Foreign tourists go to countries where they feel welcome and where there are many tourism products for them to enjoy vacations and to visit places of interest.

Thirdly, they come over to our country because of food which they can easily find. Apart from these, the local communities are welcoming towards the arrivals of the tourists where the language issue is not the main concern of the tourists who want to come to any country, saying that it is not going to hinder their travelling plans. If we want to go to other countries, say the Middle East or India or China, we do not want to insist that these countries must use Bahasa Malaysia on their road signages simply because it is for these countries concerned to decide," he said.

There are in parliament of opposition members of parliament who had questioned Datuk Seri Tiong's criticism against DBKL for reportedly penalising businesses not using Bahasa Malaysia in their signboards since October this year but I feel that we need to abide by the rules of laws. If the by-laws say so, everyone living in that area must abide by them. There is no need for us to insist on the use of Tamil language to attract tourists from India, Mandarin for tourists from China, or Arabic for tourists from Middle Eastern countries. 

The use of Bahasa Malaysia in DBKL's jurisdiction should not be made an issue. There is no need to make a small issue become a major issue by alleging such actions as excessive and counterproductive. Hence, we must not create a false negative image that contradicts our reality as a multiracial, multicultural, and multi religious country.

Welcoming our State Budget 2025 allocation for Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak

The Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak was allocated with over RM100 million in our 2025 State Budget and it will bolster our tourism sector in becoming a premier tourist destination in the region while fostering sustainable development. The funding will support event organisation, infrastructure upgrades, and initiates aimed at growing the local tourism industry much rapidly.

We had welcomed the recent announcement of the budget that highlighted our dedication to expanding the local tourism sector which include events, infrastructure improvements, and other initiatives that are aligned with this goal, which will benefit visitors from all over. For the record, Sarawak’s tourism industry had shown consistent growth, achieving its 2022 and 2023 visitor arrival targets and, by early November, its goal for 2024.

The successful staging of the numerous cultural, musical, and food events that attracted visitors and highlighted Sarawak’s vibrancy is evidence that our tourism sector is thriving. The significant allocation for tourism is part of broader efforts to promote the state’s unique heritage and natural beauty, while supporting creative industries, performing arts, and sustainable tourism development,” he said, expressing confidence that this funding would further elevate Sarawak as a key player in Malaysia’s tourism landscape.

Apart from the allocation for tourism, Sarawak is also continuing its efforts to prioritise conservation efforts. Among those which had been undertaken is the world’s longest reef ball project along the state’s coastline, as well as the establishment of marine parks like Talang Satang and Luconia Shoals, as testaments to its commitment to preserving natural resources while enhancing ecotourism opportunities. 

As our tourism industry continues to grow, we are optimistic about the future and the budget allocation had demonstrated our commitment in ensuring the tourism sector will continue to thrive and contribute significantly to Sarawak’s development.

Delightful experience at "Pristine Seas: Bringing The Ocean Back" exhibition held at Borneo Cultures Museum

I have praised our Sarawak Museum Department for having organised the “Pristine Seas: Bringing The Ocean Back” exhibition at  Borneo Cultures Museum in Kuching City. Our appreciation to the department headed by it’s Director, Puan Nancy Haji Jolhi for having invited me to grace the opening ceremony which was also attended by our young folks from University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), UiTM Kota Samarahan campus and SIDMA College Kuching. 

The exhibition exciting because its showcases the splendour of our rich marine life and oceans while raising the people’s awareness on what the Pristine Seas project by National Geographic really stands for.  According to our museum department, it had attracted a total of 12,578 visitors since opening on October 28. 

The exhibition is serving to showcase the beauty of marine life and the ocean while raising awareness about the “Pristine Seas” project’s critical conservation efforts. Such initiatives are also aligned with Sarawak’s goals under the Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, emphasising sustainable development, collaboration with local communities, and the preservation of natural ecosystems to achieve its vision of becoming a developed region by 2030.  

Our local folks to seize the opportunity to visit the exhibition and experience the wonders of the Pristine Seas firsthand. It provides us the good opportunity to learn more about ocean conservation and draw inspiration from the continuous efforts to restore and protect our oceans worldwide. The exhibition also serves as a timely and wonderful reminder to respect our oceans, safeguard the marine life, and explore how we can all contribute to the success on global scale.

Appreciation dinner for volunteers and working committee members of recent Malaysia Games

It was an honour for me to grace the appreciation dinner for all of our volunteers and working committee members who were involved in the various competitions held at our Central Zone of Sibu, Mukah and Betong. The dinner was hosted by our Malaysia Games (SUKMA) Secretariat and was held at the ballroom of Kingwood Hotel.

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In my speech, I have extended our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all

those involved in the recent SUKMA games where the central zone was the competition venue for 

badminton, football, men's and women's volleyball. The excellent volunteer service and their dedication during the staging of competitions had received the thumbs up by the athletes as well as their accompanying team officials, coaches and supporters.

During the dinner there were entertainment and lucky draw which offered attractive prizes to the delight of the winners. 

A total of 280.7 million allocation for development and improvements of sports facilities throughout Sarawak

Our State Government had allocated a total of RM280.7 million under the Sarawak Budget 2025 for the development and improvements of sports facilities throughout the divisions. The allocation was a significant increase compared to the RM76.4 million allocated under last year's budget and this had reflected our state government’s commitment to provide sports facilities of international standard.  

I have mentioned these in my winding up speech and including plans for a youth and sports database to be undertaken next year which had aimed to allow for informed, data-driven decisions and to monitor progress across all levels. 

 

Thus, the database would facilitate the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) to develop effective targeted strategies for youth development in leadership, sports and entrepreneurship, and shape policies that positively impact the lives of Sarawak’s youth.

 

Extensive research and an inclusive approach to data collection are required to develop this database. To ensure the database is comprehensive and accurate, MYSED will work closely with the Institute for Youth Research Malaysia (IYRES) on the Sarawak Youth Index 2.0 study. 

 

Once completed, the data will be integrated into the existing Integrated Games Management System (IGMS) from the Sarawak Sports Council (SSC) to create a system that serves the needs of various key stakeholders. We are also looking at integrating into Sarawak Big Data in time to come. For next year, our ministry would be focussing on a futurising the youth programme by equipping youth with essential skills for a rapidly evolving world. 

 

The "Futurize Youth @ AI Initiative" will train over 500 youths in Sarawak with artificial intelligence skills, preparing them for careers in technology and supporting the growth of Sarawak’s high-tech sector.

Sarawak had achieved a total of 4.08 million visitors as of 15 November 2024.

I was pleased to announce at the recent State's Legislative Assembly sitting that Sarawak has reached its target of four million visitors for the year 2024 and the achievement was a month ahead of schedule. The total number of visitors achieved was 4.08 million visitors as of November 15. 

The achievement was the positive result of the various international and national-level tourism events, conventions, conferences and meetings which were organised on our shores this year and hence, resulting in the sharp growth of visitors' arrival. With Sarawak's tourism sector anticipating full recovery by 2025, our Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) had aimed to achieve five million visitors in 2025 and also generating an expected RM12.73 billion in tourism receipts.

The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) was also targeting India and the Middle East as new markets due to their growing population of travellers with higher spending power and diverse interests. For instance, Sarawak would benefit from India's booming outbound tourism market driven by young, digitally-savvy travellers interested in niche tourism sectors. Consequently, Sarawak Tourism Board had engaged with 64 prominent film producers from South Indian Film Producers Association to attract them to choose Sarawak as their next preferred filming destination.

As a result of Sarawak Tourism Board's promotion initiatives, visitors from the new markets segment had grown by 75.3% this year. Similarly, other regional markets have also recorded positive growth, with Europe sector had increased by 12 percent, North Asia by 58.6 percent, ASEAN region by 44.6 percent and the domestic market expanded by 3.9 percent.

On another matter, the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts will be working with Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) on gazetting the "Three Sisters Waterfall" located in Baram District in Northern part of our state as a nature reserve.

It was suggested for the local communities in the said area to be engaged on the proposal and it would pave the way for the waterfall to be developed into an ecotourism attraction especially in Miri division. As such, it was suggested for setting up a community-based development committee to be coordinated by the divisional tourism task group of the Miri Resident's Office. The Three Sisters Waterfall should be gazetted as a new nature park or reserve because of its unique beauty, with three distinct falls flowing into a majestic pool.

Good response for the press conference held after my winding up speech at Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting

We have attended the press conference held at the Media Room of our State Legislative Assembly Building and it had attracted the interest of the various media establishments there. It was held shortly after my winding up speech and syukur alhamdullillah the press conference went well. 

Our appreciation to all media friends who were present with us including those who asked a number of interesting questions related to my winding up speech held earlier. Thank you also to all my deputy ministers, namely YB Datuk Sebastian Ting, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu and Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat who had accompanied me throughout the press conference. 

Also who joined us during the press conference were Datu Sherrina Hussain, the Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) along with Tuan Morshidi Fredrik, Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Youth, Sports & Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED).