Attending the Sarawak Development Committee Coordination Meeting (SDCCM) in Sarikei town

I had a brief visit to Sarikei town recently to attend the Sarawak Development Committee Coordination Meeting (SDCCM) which was chaired by our right honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg. The meeting was held at the new Sarawak Government Administrative Complex in Sarikei and was also attended by the State Cabinet Ministers as well as heads of departments and agencies.

Shortly after the meeting, we had attended the official opening ceremony of the new administrative complex which was also performed by the right honourable Premier of Sarawak to the delight of the local folks who include their community leaders from throughout Sarikei. The multi-storey complex is another iconic government building which will serve the local communities better especially with it modern facilities.

Another busy week and gladly attended the recent Rimbunan Hijau (RH) Group 50th Anniversary Dinner

It had been a busy week for all of us and I had to stay overnight in Sibu to attend the recent Rimbunan Hijau (RH) Group 50th Anniversary Dinner which was held at University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) Chancellory Hall on Saturday evening. There over 3,000 guests from throughout the state as well as from overseas who had attended the delightful dinner which was graced by our right honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg.

As Sarawakians, we are indeed proud with the milestones and sterling achievements of RH Group of companies which started with a humble beginning and had grown from strength to strength over the past five decades. We were delighted with the evening's line up of programme which include choir performances by staff members as well talented young school children. We also witnessed the presentation of long service awards to the group's staff and top management officials who include the esteemed managing director, Datuk Tiong Thai King.   

Leading a week-long working visit to Australia together with officials from Ministry of Youth, Sports & Entrepreneur Development (MYSED)

A delegation from #Sarawak led by myself have safely landed at Sydney, Australia for a week-long working visit to several well known sports facilities and stadiums in this country world famous for its Kangaroos and tourists’ attraction as the “Land Down Under”. 

The first sports facility which we had visited was the Sydney Cricket Grounds located at Moore Park suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The facilities available here are fantastic and equipped with state of the art facilities for the organizing various world-class cricket events. 

It is used for the Test series, One Day International and Twenty20 cricket event. The cricket ground is also the avenue for Australian rules football, rugby league and Australia association football tourneys. It is the home ground for the New South Wales Cricket Team, the Sydney Sixers and the Sydney Swans of the Australian Football League. It is owned and operated by Venues NSW which is an agency of the government of New South Wales. The Stadium Australia and Sydney Football Stadium are also among the sports facilities and stadiums found in NSW.

Joining the merry making at "Majlis Langgar Meja & Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri" at Subis district of Bekenu, Miri

The month of Syawal is over but our folks are still in the Hari Raya mood including those in Subis district of Bekenu, Miri. I had the privilege of having being invited as guest of honour to grace the recent “Majlis Langgar Meja & Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri 2025” at Arena Sibuti, Bekenu over the weekend. I have commended our folks in Subis who comprised of different ethnicities including those from Kedayan, Jati Miriek, Melanau, Iban, Malay and Chinese communities. 

Also present during the event was Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat, Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports & Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED), Datuk Hajah Rosey Yunus Deputy Minister of Women, Family, Welfare, Community Wellbeing and Development Sarawak who is also the state assembly woman for Bekenu as well as Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni, the Federal Minister of Health who is member of parliament for Sibuti. 

Thumbs up to Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) for their role and contribution to local tourism industry

I have commended our Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) which has delivered a number of meaningful initiatives that reflect its ongoing commitment to the local tourism industry. STF together with the leadership of its president, Audrey Wan Ullok had supported and provided valuable insights and feedback on the ground to guide policy and growth. The federation had organised many events and initiatives that had served as good platforms for unity, advocacy and progress.

STF which is celebration its 21st anniversary had made it possible for local and foreign visitors to take up exciting holiday packages which included guided cultural tours, stays in longhouses or glamping tents, and access to a wide range of experiences, including visiting traditional longhouses and more.

We also commended STFwho is planning to organise town hall sessions with tourism players and ministries, creating space for dialogue and idea-sharing because STF believe real progress begins with real conversations. such activities are all designed to strengthen our ecosystem, deepen our partnerships, and ensure that no voice is left unheard. 

As the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, I have stressed to STF many times to speak up and bring to his attention any issues the members may have. We are always there to make time and listening to such feedbacks while offering amicable solutions. Recently we were invited to STF’s anniversary dinner held at Imperial Hotel in Kuching and the swinging “70s” theme was simply entertaining.

Wooing more foreign visitors by staging musical concerts featuring popular entertainers of the world

There was a buzz of excitement among our local folks on the news reports that there are ongoing negotiations to bring a well-known artist from the United States for an exclusive performance in Kuching this October. I have mentioned such possibilities in a recent interview with our media friends from TVS and the fact that staging large-scale concerts has had a positive impact on Sarawak's tourism sector, attracting visitors from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and Brunei.

Kuching and Miri have now become major attractions for foreign tourists, who visit not only for entertainment but also to enjoy the tourism products offered in Sarawak. If an event is held in Kuching, particularly if it involves singers or performers well-known in neighbouring countries, we can see a significant increase in the number of vehicles entering Sarawak from the border. 

For example, during the 2025 countdown event held at Kuching Waterfront, the Immigration Department, Customs Department, Quarantine and Security Complex in Tebedu, Serian had experienced congestion for three consecutive days. This is because visitors from West Kalimantan, Indonesia came to know that Hetty Koes Endang, the well known Indonesian performer would be performing at the year end countdown event.  

The popular and evergreen band “Earth, Wind and Fire” from USA will also be performing at the forthcoming Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2025 at the Sarawak Culture Village in Pantai Damai, Santubong on 22 to 22 June. Nevertheless, it is also important to feature our local artists in every major event as a way to build their self confidence and strengthen the talents of the local creative industry so that it can leverage on the big names in the world entertainment industry.

Recently I took the time to attend the much talked about "Concert Pelangi Nidji Di Kuching" which was held at Sarawak Indoor Stadium in Petra Jaya, Kuching. The "Nidji" band is popular in Indonesia and had performed in Miri City last year at Eastwood Valley Golf & Country Club to the delight of their fans from Sarawak, Brunei Darulsalam and Kalimantan Indonesia.

We thanked the organisers for having featured a number of local singers in their recent concert including popular bands from West Malaysia which had served as opening acts that that won the hearts of the 3,000 concert goers.

 

Having the privilege and honour to represent Premier of Sarawak for official launch of he iconic "Pesta Kaul Mukah"

I had the privilege to represent our right honourable Premier of Sarawak for the official launching of this year's "Pesta Kaul Mukah" which was held at Pantai Kala Dana in Mukah Division. The seaside festival is a well known event in our state's tourism calendar of events and had attracted thousands of visitors from all over Sarawak including foreign tourists. 

The organising of the annual event not only strengthens the cultural heritage of the Melanau community, but also has a positive impact on the tourism sector and the local economy. The festival also provide ample opportunities for small entrepreneurs, promotes local products and introduces Mukah as a unique tourist destination to visitors from home and abroad.

It is a cultural heritage of the Melanau community that is rich in symbolic, customary and spiritual values and one of the symbols of the identity as well as self-respect of the Melanau community. At the same time, it is a strong testament to the richness and diversity of the culture of Sarawak which is well known for the everlasting peace and harmony among the people from various background and ethnicities.

Sarawak Pavillion at Singapore's "The Meetings Show Asia Pacific"

I had the privilege to be invited to grace the opening ceremony of Sarawak’s Pavilion at “The Meetings Show Asia Pacific” (TMS) in Singapore where we are proud to unveil two landmark launches that reflect our bold aspirations and unwavering commitment to progress in tourism and business events industries. The Sarawak Pavilion was set up and powered by our state agency, Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) and is more than just a showcase on Sarawak which aims to become a developed,

influential, and globally competitive hub for international business events and tourism. There are nine co-exhibitors at the pavillon and presenting their world-class products and services. Kudos to all our strategic partners who are serving as ambassadors of Sarawak’s hospitality and capability. This year at Sarawak’s Pavilion are also showcasing our local community-based products through special showcases and complimentary giveaways for visitors to experience and enjoy.

My appreciation to BESarawak for having invited me to launch the revamped “Tribe Legacy Sarawak” campaign on a regional platform with the powerful new tagline:

“Driving Impact Together”. This marks our renewed commitment to positioning Sarawak as the capital of legacy impact for Malaysia and Borneo through the transformative initiatives:

1. “LEGACY360” – the forthcoming event is to be held in Kuching City on 2 - 3 October and it is essentially Southeast Asia’s first event dedicated to business event

legacies. The event will enable participants to discover how purposeful events are transforming communities, organisations, and industries.

2. “Borneo Inspire Legacy Awards – With 18 awards across five categories, this global recognition platform is now open for nominations. Those interested can submit their impactful events or projects by 15 June where winners will be announced during a special ceremony following

LEGACY360.

3. “A.I. Legacy” is our newest innovation where it is the first Intelligent “Impact Management System” for business events. It is designed to measure, monitor, and report the quantitative and qualitative impact of business events hosted in Sarawak aligned to the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy of Sarawak (PCDS) and United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals. We have high hope for these three initiatives are part of the growing I.AM.LEGACY movement a call to action to educate, advocate, and celebrate meaningful impacts with all round purpose.

Welcoming revival of Borneo Games after a 12 year hiatus

The revival of the Borneo Games after a 12 years hiatus is much welcomed by all parties taking part in the event scheduled to be held in Kuching City on 24 to 28 September this year. We view the revival of the regional sporting event as crucial because it was first introduced in 1955 and last held in 2013. The revival of the games this year requires the organising committee to treat it as a fresh launch, prioritising quality over quantity due to the long hiatus.

For the forthcoming games to be very well organised, it should suffice for it to have just five sports for now. But we did open it up to others, and if there’s any interest or agreement from the main committee, we could include more sporting events. This time round, the traditional sports such as tug-of-war and blowpipe would also be featured in the Borneo Games 2025, alongside an invitational golf event to add cultural and recreational flavour to the event.

As I have mentioned to our media friends earlier, the other three events to be featured in Borneo Games 2025 would be athletics, archery and lawn ball. During the first meeting with the relevant participating contingents, we had discussions and there was a general consensus for the games to restart on a modest scale, and to expand in future editions, depending on facilities and readiness of everyone concerned.

We have to take into consideration factors such as some provinces not having the relevant sports infrastructure, or enough athletes. For example, the Brunei side had stated that they would love to host the games, but they told us about them not having the facilities. Their population is around 400,000 and it is smaller when compared to Kuching alone when the number of our people is double that.

Nonetheless, the long-term goal of having Borneo Games is that the hosting venue and duties will be rotated among Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak and the Bornean provinces of Indonesia. We are hopeful for the games to continue grow stronger from here especially with everyone’s support and cooperation.

Paying tribute to former Prime Minister of Malaysia, the late Tun Abdullah Badawi

Tributes are pouring for our former Prime Minister of Malaysia, the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who passed away at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur at 7.10pm yesterday at the age of 85. I have informed our media friends that the late Tun Abdullah who was also fondly know "Pak Lah" was one of Malaysia’s least controversial and cleanest premiers.

On behalf of myself and our ministries, I have expressed our deep sadness over the passing of Pak Lah - the fifth Premier of Malaysia whom I have described as a well-respected and widely accepted leader. 

He might not have been as vocal and noisy like the others but he did his part as Prime Minister and was very well accepted by Malaysians. If we recalled that under his leadership, Barisan Nasional (BN) had secured a more than two-thirds majority in Parliament, a feat that demonstrated the public’s strong support for him at the time. 

I had further praised the government’s decision to accord Pak Lah a final resting place at the Heroes’ Mausoleum in Kuala Lumpur, calling it ‘very apt’ for a leader of his calibre. When we look at other former prime ministers, I believe this is one person (Abdullah) who is least controversial and least corrupted. The others, even though not yet found guilty, have been linked to so many bad things. We pray that his soul will be blessed and placed among the pious.

Junior tennis players from 20 countries vying for top honours in 52nd Sarawak Premier Cup International Junior toruney

This morning I had congratulated our Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) for having succeeded to include this year’s edition of Sarawak Premier Junior Tennis Championship in the prestigious J300 International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Series. We had a press conference at our office to officially announce the staging of the forthcoming event which being organised annually by SLTA in Kuching City.

The local home grown tennis event has entered its 52nd edition and this time it had attracted entries from 20 different countries. Top junior tennis players are vying for top honours in the event which starts on 20 to 27 April at SLTA Tennis Centre of Jalan Crookshank in Kuching. Among the entries in this year’s event are Australia, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, the Republic of South Africa, Russia, Singapore, Taipei, Thailand, Turkey, United States of America and host country, Malaysia.

Kudos to TVS and its plans to become premier Sarawak home grown television station

Congratulations to our media friends at TVS for having established themselves as the first Sarawak-based television station that was accepted by the public including those from Peninsular Malaysia. This was indeed proven during the staging of the 21st edition of Malaysia Games (SUKMAXXI) and the Para-SUKMA Games in Sarawak last year.

This matter was also mentioned by our right honourable Premier of Sarawak in his speech at the launching ceremony of “Majlis Ramah Tamah Aidil Fitri TVS 2025” held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) this morning. A new building with its broadcast studio will house the headquarters of TV Sarawak (TVS) and is expected to be completed in 2027. 

The new facility, among other things, plays an important role in ensuring the smooth broadcasting and coverage of the 2027 SEA Games following Sarawak being chosen as the co-host. Of course, TVS will be the official broadcasting partner reporting on the events in Sarawak and broadcasting live to the participating countries later.

Junior players from 18 nations converging in Kuching City for the 2025 Asia/ Oceania Final Qualifying Round World Under-14 Junior Tennis Tourney

We welcome participants from 18 countries including who are competing in the “2025 Asia/ Oceania Final Qualifying Round World Under-14 Junior Tennis” tournament which is being held in Kuching City. 

Thank you to the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for having invited me to grace the welcoming dinner for the participants at Hilton Kuching of Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuching.

The participating teams include those from Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Nepal, Thailand, Uzbekistan and host country, Malaysia. The Under-14 girls and boys qualifying round is one of seven international events to be hosted in Sarawak for the year 2025. 

In my speech, I have commended SLTA for putting Sarawak on the world’s tennis map by continuing to run international junior tournaments in Kuching. SLTA is one of the most active sports associations in Sarawak and earlier on in March 3 to 8, they had hosted the Asia Oceania Pre Qualifying Event under the Billie Jean King Cup Junior Under-16 tournament.

The next international event on the SLTA calendar was the ITF qualifying finals for the World Boys Under-14 Junior Tennis Championship that was held back-to-back with the ITF World Girls Junior Competition that ends on April 16.

The major tennis events of the year will include the 43rd Sarawak Premier Cup ITF World Tennis Juniors J300 from April 22 to 27; and the 44th Sarawak Premier Cup ITF World Tennis Juniors J100 from Sept 2 to 7. The final international junior tennis event in Sarawak will be the 18th ATF Asian Under-14 Series from Oct 13 to 18.

Sarawak is honoured to host these tournaments where the junior players from the Asian region and the world will come together to compete before becoming professionals who eventually become world champions.