A wonderful interview with our media friends from TVS on Sarawak's tourism industry

Recently I had a wonderful interview session with our media friends from TVS and had shared with them on Sarawak’s tourism industry which is booming with tourism receipts had reached over RM1 billion monthly in 2025, even as it closes in on its ambitious target of 5 million visitors.

I had also announced that as of November 2025, Sarawak had recorded 4.42 million tourist arrivals, nearing the annual target of 5 million. Although we may not achieve that numerical target, the consistent performance in tourism receipts indicates that tourist spending quality is at a good level.

Sarawak has so far never recorded 5 million tourist arrivals before, therefore, the target is seen as challenging but reasonable, in line with the state government’s approach of evaluating performance based on actual data and impact.

When asked about the target for 2026.

The new target would only be finalized once the tourist arrival data for last year is obtained from the Malaysian Immigration Department. We do not want to set a target hastily. If we are close to or reach 5 million, then we will consider a new target. If not, we will maintain the existing target.

As for the visitors arrival for the year end 2025, Sarawak had recorded a surge in tourist arrivals from Indonesia and Brunei leading up to the 2026 New Year celebrations, particularly at border entry points such as the Tebedu Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex.

The organizing of concerts featuring famous Indonesian artists proved to be a major attraction, considering that opportunities to watch these artists perform in West Kalimantan are limited. For the three days before December 31, I was informed that there was a significant increase in tourist arrivals from Indonesia at the Tebedu ICQS. Apart from traveling, they also came to watch concerts and join in the 2026 New Year celebrations at the Kuching Waterfront.

A similar situation was also seen involving tourists from Brunei, especially when similar celebrations were also held in Miri, thus creating an additional attraction for regional tourists. I have also revealed that event-based and regional market tourism strategies will continue to be important drivers for increasing Sarawak’s tourism receipts, besides providing economic spillover to the local hotel industry, food and beverage, and other supporting service sectors throughout the year 2026.

Wishing everyone Happy New Year 2026

I take this opportunity to wish everyone Happy New Year 2026. As we usher the new year, it is also a good time for all of us to reflect the Year 2025 which had brought fond memories and great life experiences. 

Whether we are celebrating with our loved ones or reaching out from afar, the coming New Year is all about sharing the joy, enthusiasm and setting the positive spirits for the months ahead. 

My warm wishes for good health and happiness to all of you. Let us share our hopes for the best to come in 2026 together with our love ones, family members, friends, and neighbours too. Let our joyful spirits ring in the new year with positivity and love for everyone. Happy New Year!

 

Congratulations to Federal Government's new deputy ministers from Sarawak

The recent Federal Government’s Cabinet reshuffle had captured Malaysia’s news headlines and our media friends had seek my comments on this matter which is of public’s interest. I had expressed hope for the smooth cooperation with Sarawak’s newly appointed federal deputy ministers namely YB Mordi Bimol and YB Chief Choon Man. YB Mordi, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mas Gading in Bau had replaced the former Federal Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, YB Adam Adli while YB Chiew the MP for Miri is now the new Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture. 

I have congratulated both MPs on their recent appointments and had expressed hope for them to play active role in advancing sports and tourism development in Sarawak following the recent Federal Cabinet reshuffle. I have also urged them to prioritise initiatives for Sarawak and we must take note that both of them are new to federal roles and will need time to adjust, and when they do, he said their responsibility is not only for Sarawak but for the whole of Malaysia.

I have also mentioned it will not be easy, especially for newcomers. We hope they will continue to give priority to sports and tourism development in Sarawak. I have praised the outgoing Youth and Sports Minister, YB Hannah Yeoh for her support in organising the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) and in the preparation for the 2027 Southeast Asia (SEA) Games which Sarawak will co-host with three other states.

“I will miss her, as she has been instrumental in assisting us. Our hope is that the new minister will continue what has been set in motion. Of course, there may be new policies, but the plans already approved by the federal Cabinet for SEA Games 2027 will be continued. We have plans to pay a courtesy call to the new Federal Youth and Sports Minister, YB Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari soon. Even though he is very young but we have the confidence in building a productive working relationship. Most importantly the continuity and cooperation between federal and state levels must prevail because these are keys to keeping major sporting and tourism projects on track.

Getting business events to become an economic driver in Sarawak

 As part of our commitment in getting business events as one of the economic drivers, all Sarawak government ministries are expected to commit to organising at least two business events as part of a new framework aimed at strengthening policy delivery and long-term development outcomes. Such requirements will take effect from 2026 onwards and such actions will be directly undertaken into Sarawak’s government operations rather than treating them as stand-alone activities.

I have mentioned these while delivering the keynote address by our right honourable Premier of Sarawak at the official opening ceremony of the inaugural “Sarawak Business Events Forum” recently held at Sheraton Hotel Kuching. The approach in getting things done will be formalised through the “Business Events Sarawak Alliance (BESA) which is expected to deliver positive and tangible results.

The organising of the inaugural business events forums had marked the first milestone of this declaration with the launch of BESA. We have high hopes for the year 2026 where all ministries will enter strategic collaboration with Business Events Sarawak or BE Sarawak in short, in utilising business events as tools for policy delivery, sector development, and long-term legacy creation.

Under the alliance, the ministries will be expected to take ownership of events aligned with their respective portfolios, with emphasis placed on long-term legacy outcomes rather than short-term economic returns. Those that had fulfilled the legacy-driven criteria will receive structured support, including qualification, evaluation and facilitation assistance to ensure consistency and accountability in event delivery.

Local government ministries and agencies will also be involved in targeted training programmes and exposure opportunities to strengthen internal capabilities, improve knowledge transfer and enhance expertise in measuring long-term impact. The strategic alliance is aimed to empower our government ministries and agencies to be business events owners and benefiting the impacts as well.

Such initiative also reflects the state government’s intention to break down silos within the public sector and promote coordinated action across ministries. This is because meaningful progress requires a whole-of-government approach, where every ministry moves with shared purpose, shared responsibility and shared ambition.

Hence, having the declaration is a strategic move that will position business events as long-term instruments for policy delivery and sustainable development. It will serve as a shared commitment by all of us in the public service in utilising business events as tools to advance policies aligned with the Post-Covid Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030). Under the framework, Sarawak will commit to owning and hosting at least two national or international business events, with priority given to homegrown initiatives. BESA will also support capacity building for ministries.

Thumbs up to organisers of Sarawak Budget Conference 2026

 I was recently invited to be a panelist at the “Fireside Forum” with an interesting title on “Driving Growth In Sarawak Socio Economic Front”. This forum was organized in conjunction with the 2026 Sarawak Budget Conference that was organized by the Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence (SCOPE) together with the Sarawak Civil Service (SCS) Leadership Institute and Salihin Company. The conference was held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on 16 to 17 December and was attended by participants from both within and outside the state. 

It was an interesting session and was part of the two-day conference which had served as a strategic platform to discuss on the 2026 Sarawak Budget that will align our public and private sector stakeholders knowledge as well as expectations on Sarawak’s long-term economic and social aspirations. The highlight of the event was the keynote address by our right honourable Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg. His address had include the outline of our state government’s vision under the 2026 budget framework, with emphasis on people-centric development, economic resilience and sustainable growth.

Response towards the series of plenary sessions and panel discussions was encouraging with participants getting good outcomes that had focussed on fiscal outlooks, development planning, business competitiveness, and strategies to navigate global economic uncertainties while strengthening Sarawak’s domestic economy. There were discussions that deliberated on the alignment between the state and federal budgets, as well as policy measures to enhance socio-economic outcomes, support businesses and improve public service delivery.

 

Kudos to the organisers who had rendered a good avenue for us to get clarity on policy direction while fostering constructive engagement among local and strategic stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of budgetary measures.

 

Kudos to Sarawak Cycling Association (SCA) for this year's strings of achievements

Recently I was invited to the appreciation dinner and awards presentation ceremony that was organised by the Sarawak Cycling Association (SCA) which was held at the Sarawak of Jalan Taman Budaya in Kuching. The function was organised to present awards to our exemplary cycling athletes who had won numerous championships at national level in 2025 especially in track and BMX events. It was a pleasure to have the presence of Malaysia National Cycling Federation ((MNCF) president, Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill who is also on leadership roles with the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) and is a vice-president at International Cycling Union (UCI). 

In my speech, I did mention many things including the lack of a velodrome which in many ways had limited the development of track cycling in Sarawak. We need proper infrastructure development which is essential to build high-performance athletes for Sarawak which wants to be known to be a sports powerhouse in cycling as well as a reputable organiser of sporting events.

We do not want to just be a good organiser. We want to be champions. Because of that, our government has agreed in principle to the construction of a velodrome, which will form part of Sarawak’s broader efforts to strengthen its sports ecosystem alongside BMX and mountain biking facilities. I was pleased to reveal that the land accreditation process involving more than 60 acres near the Sarawak Sports Complex in Petra Jaya has largely been completed and described the site as suitable for the development of a major sports hub.

When we have our own velodrome, it will be able to increase the spirit and interest towards competitive cycling. Apart from that, I have also highlighted the importance of cycling clubs as the foundation of the sport’s development in Sarawak with cycling has historically grown through club-based structures since the 1960s and continues to do so today.

Thus, I have called for stronger focus on youth development, particularly among cyclists in the age group between 15 to 17. This can ensure Sarawak can progressively develop a sustainable pipeline of competitive and event ready athletes capable of delivering results in the future. I have also congratulated the Sarawak Cycling Association for being recognised as the best cycling association in Malaysia based on the recent sterling performances of our young cyclists at this year’s national championships. It is a collective achievement that reflects the progress made in developing the sport at Sarawaklevel.

Commenting on recent launch of AirBorneo's tickets prices which had attracted criticisms from the public

My comments on the recent public’s response to the tickets prices by AirBorneo which had been launched the few days. I have urged our local folks to give Sarawak's new state-owned airline some time to adjust its fares after taking over from MASwings Sdn Bhd. The ticket prices were just launched and we called for the people to exercise patience and understanding during this initial period. The aircrafts have mot even started flying, and people are already complaining. “Give it a chance” I have said to our media friends in responding to the public’s dissatisfaction with high airfares on Airborneo's newly launched website. 

Sarawak-owned airline AirBorneo has begun selling flight tickets following the recent launch of its official website on December 10. Travels on AirBorneo are available from January 14 next year, marking a key milestone in Sarawak’s anticipated entry into Malaysia’s commercial aviation. AirBorneo's initial network will focus on domestic routes within Sarawak and Sabah. Presently the routes are currently operated using turboprop aeroplanes under the Rural Air Services (RAS) framework. 

The negative reactions to AirBorneo’s newly-announced launch fares are premature in nature as our airline has yet to begin operations officially. I have also stressed that the ticket prices must remain sustainable for the airline to operate. The planes have not even taken off yet and people are already complaining. Give it a chance.

Our media friends are keen to my response to the complaints from travellers and industry players, who felt the fares were too high and needed reviewing to better support domestic mobility and tourism growth. I have mentioned that fare-setting in the aviation industry involves multiple considerations and cannot be lowered excessively at the expense of operational viability.

There is no point to bring down the fare right up to the minimum until AirBorneo so called unable to operate. There has to be a balance. The pricing also needed to consider the wider aviation ecosystem and ensure that AirBorneo’s rates do not unintentionally drive away other airlines serving Sarawak. We have to balance it out with our fellow airlines. If we lower it to the point that other airlines run away and no longer want to come to Sarawak, it will be a loss. When everybody wants to use AirBorneo then the one who will suffer will be us too.

There had been online complaints regarding routes such as Sibu–Kota Kinabalu and Sibu–Kuching, where some travellers felt fares of over RM200 were “too high” but in real life perceptions of affordability differ among passengers. What is the ideal price? Is it RM100? RM200? RM250? It depends. To some, RM200-plus might be okay. To others, it might not be okay. It’s very difficult to satisfy everybody.

I have reiterated that public judgement over whether the fares are low or high remains “very, very subjective”, adding that affordability varies between income groups.

That is why I say whether the fare is low or not is very, very subjective. For businessmen, RM250, that is peanuts to them. Maybe for farmers, RM250 might not be. Our public should be patient and to allow the system time to stabilise. Let us wait for the system to settle, the plane to be there, then after a while the price will get adjusted by itself.

Over 5,000 attended the official opening of "Civil Service Day 2025" at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching

Over 5,000 members of Sarawak's civil service had joined this year's "Civil Service Day" which was held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) that was officiated by our right honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg.

It was a delightful event where our civil servants from all government ministries, agencies and departments had gathered together to hear for themselves the various speeches delivered by the Federal Chief Secretary, our honourable State Secretary of Sarawak and the guest of honour, the Premier of Sarawak.

Our esteemed premier had expressed his appreciation to the state and Federal civil service members, describing them as the backbone in realizing Sarawak's development policies.

Among the other key points that he had mentioned were on the importance of continuing commitment of government officials, especially in the education and health sectors, enables critical issues like dilapidated schools and the role of the Health Department to be addressed effectively through close cooperation between state and Federal levels. The transformation and adaptation of Sarawak's civil service had proven itself capable of adapting to ongoing transformation agendas, particularly regarding digitalization and efficient fund management. 

In achieving the lean government model, we need to progress in the digitalization and organized fiscal governance which are important pillars in ensuring our government's administration is more efficient, responsive, and not burdensome.

 

Delightful time at the recent "WAK 2025" appreciation dinner & looking forward to achieving 5 million tourists in 2025

We had a delightful evening at the recent “We Are Kindred Festival (WAK 2025) Appreciation Dinner” which was held at Theatre Hotel Kuching. Also present during the dinner were the list of supporters and collaborators of this year’s WAK event which had various exciting activities as well as programs held in Kuching, Sibu and Miri. In my speech, I described the festival as an important catalyst in Sarawak's creative industry, fostering innovation, cultural exploration, and collaboration among our multi-racial community. The expansion of WAK events to Sarawak’s central and northern regions had highlighted the growing interest in arts and creativity across our state. 

On another note, I have highlighted the importance of support and collaboration from both government agencies, private sector and non governmental organizations (NGOs) in making this year's WAK a huge success and attracted the attention of our local folks.

With the staging of colourful events in Sarawak, we are able to attract visitors from domestic and international sectors which in return contributing the tourism receipts that had breached the RM1 billion mark in October 2025. The tourism receipt had also showed Sarawak's positive momentum of consistently achieving over RM1 billion every month since January 2025. 

Our visitors' number had also reached 414, 225 people in October and those from the international sector had reached 212,250 people.

We are also optimistic for Sarawak to reach its target of five million tourists by the end of 2025 and the state government will continue to strengthen our position as a premier destination through the organizing of high-impact events, aggressive promotions and development of new tourism products to woo visitors.

“Samarahan Food and Cultural Festival 2025 (SFCF2025)” will be held from 21 to 29 November at Desa Ilmu Market Place in Kota Samarahan

The much awaited “Samarahan Food and Cultural Festival 2025 (SFCF2025)” will be held from 21 to 29 November at the Desa Ilmu Market Place in Kota Samarahan and the organisers are optimistic for it to become a signature tourism event which is capable of attracting visitors from across Samarahan and other divisions including Kuching. I have mentioned this to our media friends during the recent press conference held at Majlis Perbandaran Kota Samarahan (MPKS) and for a festival of this scale, the organisers may achieve around 250,000 visitors which is possible since it is bringing together Samarahan’s rich food and cultural heritage in a 10-day showcase.

The annual event would feature various traditional dishes and cultural elements from Malay, Iban, Bidayuh, Bugis, Jawa and Chinese communities which will be a crowd puller considering Samarahan’s position as a residential and education hub. 

The festival is aimed to introduce the uniqueness of food and culture found in Samarahan. With so many ethnic groups here, the festival can feature traditions rarely seen elsewhere. Thus, the event also offers families a chance to enjoy different dishes without needing to cook at home throughout the festival period.

With support from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and local agencies, we believe the event will reflect Samarahan’s local identity and strengthen community participation. There will be nightly cultural performances would include Malay ‘bermukun’, ‘bertandak’ and ‘kompang’, Iban ‘gendang pampat’, Bugis cultural items and Chinese traditional arts. Cultural groups from Kelantan, Kedah and Melaka under UNIMAS’ cultural units would also be featured throughout the festival. Popular singers from Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia — including Baby Shima, Baggio Damasutra, Mawat, Rickie Andrewson and Winnie Albert — would further enliven the event.

The public are invited to join the event which will enable them to see cultural elements beyond Sarawak through the participation of groups from Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. These cultural performances will help broaden cultural appreciation and strengthen Samarahan’s role as a gathering point for different traditions.

There are a number of exciting side activities which include Samarahan Idol, Fun Run, Cooking Competition, Pineapple Arrangement Contest, Aerobathon Challenge, Battle of the Bands and a three-hour Non-Stop Zumba session. The festival would also provide business opportunities for local food vendors and young entrepreneurs to expand their business exposure and develop their interest in food-based industries.

Thumbs up to the "Kamek Prihatin, Kitak Penting" outreach program organised by the Ministry of Women, Children and Community Wellbeing Sarawak (KPWK)

Last weekend I had attended the "Kamek Prihatin, Kitak Penting" outreach program organised by the Ministry of Women, Children and Community Wellbeing Sarawak (KPWK) which is part of our Sarawak Government's commitment to go to the ground with strategic partners to ensure that various services can be channeled directly to the local communities.

Our heartfelt thanks to Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, the Women, Children and Community Wellbeing Sarawak together with KPWK and Sarawak's Community Welfare Department and various agencies for organising the program in Asajaya district with the launching at Kampung Sebandi Ulu Community Hall.

Through the program, the various government's assistance and essential services are delivered directly to our local folks, thus fostering a spirit of togetherness and supporting the aspirations of Sarawak's Post-COVID-19 Development Plan (PCDS 2030).

The program also symbolizes our Sarawak Government's philosophy of going to the ground and reaching out to the local communities at large simply because it is more effective and have far reaching effects.

Our local folks are important and thus, it is important to bring services and information directly to them and such efforts are being done so that those who previously did not know about the assistance or services provided by government agencies and ministries can find out about it.