Our tourism industry is back and thriving to new heights

My special thanks to our veteran journalist and well-known political writer, Toman Mamora who had written a wonderful article on Sarawak's tourism industry which had bounced back from the Covid-19 era and now thriving to new heights.

The news article was published in the Borneo Post, a well-known newspaper in Sarawak and Sabah. The article was titled "Yes Minister! Our tourism is bouncing back! Essentially it paid tribute to the hard work and joint efforts that were put in by our Sarawak and Malaysia Governments the past few years in getting the tourism industry back on track. 

Our visitors' arrival the past few years after Covid-19 era had increased steadily with over 4 million people having visited Sarawak with the tourism receipts had surpassed the RM10 billion mark. This year, our Right Honourable Premier of Sarawak had confidently set a target of 5 million visitors in 2025 and his confidence had stemmed from the aggressive marketing and promotion activities undertaken by Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) through its agency, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB). 

The ongoing campaign on "Visit Malaysia Malaysia 2026" (VMY2026) is also another feel good factor in wooing more visitors to our country while at the same time leveraging on the exposure given to our country especially overseas. 

Expecting 1,000 participants in this year's "Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS)" on June 18 to 20

This year’s edition of “Rainforest Youth Summit” or “RAYS” is on from June 18 to 20 at HIKMAH Exchange & Exhibition Centre (HEEC) in Kuching. We are expecting 1,000 participants from throughout ASEAN countries and Malaysia. 

Presently, over 300 participants had already confirmed including youth delegates from across ASEAN. We look forward to welcoming other global environmental youth leaders, sustainability advocates, and indigenous knowledge keepers. My thanks to Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) for having invited me to grace the official announcement held at Borneo Culture Museum (BCM) recently and also by our media friends.

This youth-centric event is set to bring together ASEAN youths to drive sustainability and climate action. Themed ‘Living Landscapes: Charting a Sustainable Future’, the summit will gather young change makers, environmental leaders, and indigenous voices to collaborate on building a greener, more equitable world.

The final day of RAYS2025 is at the Sarawak Cultural Village and it will provide a transformative platform for dialogue, skill-building, and meaningful actions with over15 speakers from 12 countries will share their insights on key themes, including biodiversity preservation, rainforest wisdom, climate adaptation, youth advocacy, and sustainable development. 

Among them are young global sustainability personalities namely Zoya Miari, Prachi Shevgaonkar, Mitzi Jonelle Tan, and Larissa Crawford, who have made waves in environmental activism and social impact. They will also be joined by regional voices including Joshua Belayan, and Dr Ahmad Zafir Abdul Wahab, a leading conservation biologist dedicated to preserving Malaysia’s rich biodiversity.

Beyond inspiring conversations and keynote sessions, hands-on workshops will be held to equip young participants with practical solutions and real-world strategies to become agents of change. The summit will also culminate in a special cultural experience at the Rainforest World Music Festival 2025 , allowing participants to immerse themselves in Sarawak’s vibrant arts and cultural scene.

Through cultural showcases, we will celebrate Sarawak’s vibrant heritage, which is a reminder that culture is not just our identity but also a powerful tool for connection especially among youngsters. Thus, RAYS2025 reflects a growing commitment to youth-led environmental initiatives.

To encourage wider participation, organisers have introduced special registration tiers. ASEAN youths can register at RM300, returning alumni at RM250, group participants at RM230 per person, and international delegates outside Asean at RM500. The fees include access to workshops, plenary sessions, networking events, and a special entry to the RWMF 2025.

In this regard, are encouraging young leaders from Sarawak, Malaysia, and around the world to join this upcoming event. They can become part of RAYS2025 to add their voice, passion, and vision to the conversations that will shape our world. Together, our young folks chart a path towards a future where our landscapes, rainforests, rivers, and communities thrive in harmony.

My comments on label for Sarawak as one of the 6 poorest states in Malaysia

I have chided our Economy Minister, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli who had listed Sarawak as one of the 6 poorest states in Malaysia including Sabah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis. I was interviewed by our local media friends on this matter after Sarawak together with other “poorest states” were warned not to expect allocations from the Federal Government alone. 

According to the learned Datuk Seri Rafizi, efforts to narrow the poverty gap is a shared responsibility that must be shouldered by the respective state governments in order to attract investment and business. He had also mentioned that the allocation to the 6 poorest states in our country which hd been maintained is much more than others. 

Of course it is not right to put Sarawak as one of the poorest states in Malaysia simply because we have billions of ringgit in our coffers and not forgetting the rich natural resources which we posses that had not been fully discovered nor tapped. I have mentioned that probably such label was based on the large number of “e-kasih” applicants which had been registered in Sarawak previously and that the relevant authorities should revisit such registration.

Nevertheless, Sarawak has a lot of rural folks who are actively involved in agriculture and its downstream activities but what they are lacking is the documentary proofs of their monthly earnings from such economic activities. I have mentioned that there are kampung folks in the Asajaya constituency who have earned up to RM10,000 monthly but they do not have “salary slips” to prove their lucrative earnings from working on their lands and farms. Some can even earned RM5,000 a month which is far more than the average full time wage earners and sadly these farmers do not have “salary slips” to prove their monthly incomes.

Over 3,000 of our folks expected to join the forthcoming "Juh Berambeh Sungkei" organised by Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) together with Kelab Belia Proaktif

Over 3,000 people are expected to attend the large-scale iftar (breaking of fast) event which will be held on 15 March at Padang Merdeka in Kuching. The "Juh Berambeh Sungkei" event is organised by Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) together with Kelab Belia Proaktif which aims to   celebrate Sarawak's unity and diversity by bringing people from various backgrounds together.

This event is not a religious event but a breaking of fast event that reflects Sarawak's spirit of inclusivity, mutual respect and understanding. I have mentioned this during the press conference and although fasting is a religious obligation for Muslims during Ramadan, we know that many of our friends who are not Muslims sometimes join in fasting. It is not wrong for us to hold a breaking of fast gathering for all. Thus, the event has the dual themes of "Iftar in Unity" and "Youth in Sustainability".

Also present during the press conference was Datuk Georgina Apphia Ngau, the director at Unit for Other Religions (Unifor). With the support of Unifor, this event will stand as a shining example of Sarawak's commitment to religious harmony and social cohesion because our folks from all faiths were welcome to attend.

The event will also feature sustainability initiatives, including solar charging stations, plastic bottle collection for recycling, and food waste collection. Although we come from different racial and religious backgrounds, we can sit down and eat together. This youth-led initiative shows that unity and harmony begin at a young age.

Wishing "Selamat Berpuasa" to all Muslims in Sarawak and Malaysia

I take this opportunity to wish all Muslims "Selamat Berpuasa" and may our fasting will be well received by Allah Subhanahuwataala  I also expressed hope for all Muslims in Sarawak and our country take advantage of the blessed month to strengthen friendships and help those in need.

The forthcoming 28th Rainforest World Music Festival 2025 (RWMF2025) expected to woo 30,000 crowd

This year’s Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF2025) is targeting 30,000 attendees and the legendary “Earth, Wind & Fire” (EWF) band will be among the international acts who will be performing at Sarawak Cultural Village from June 20 to 22. The seven-time Grammy Award winner guitarist Al McKay is bringing the legendary band’s timeless groove to the RWMF2025 which is entering its 28th edition.

I thanked Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) for having invited me to the official announcement and press conference which was held at the Theatre Hotel in Jalan Song Thian Cheok, Kuching. This year’s festival has the theme called “Connections: One Earth, One Love’’ that showcases the significance in celebrating the power of music to unite cultures and bridge traditions, while reinforcing a commitment to environmental sustainability.

It would also showcase an unparalleled fusion of world-class talents and indigenous artistry, featuring three outstanding headliners namely the ‘The Earth, Wind & Fire Experience by Al McKay’, Otyken from Siberia, Russia, and Sarawak’s very own At Adau, alongside 170 performers from 20 other countries. There will be the “Otyken, an indigenous band, offers an immersive musical experience rooted in Siberian traditions with their throat singing blends, tribal rhythms, and folk instruments with modern electronic elements.

Revellers will also be entertained by local acts including “At Adau” band which was established in 2014. It fuses traditional Sape melodies with tribal percussion from Borneo’s diverse ethnic groups, blending heritage with contemporary world music. Local musical talents such as “Buloh Berkocak”, Dee Jay, Matthew Ngau’s “Wind & Earth”, Meruked, and Naungan will be representing both eastern and western regions of Malaysia.

The other International acts will include “Gaga Gundul” (France and Indonesia), “Kuntaw Mindano” (Philippines), “Kulāiwi” (Hawaii, USA), “La Chiva Gantiva” (Colombia and Belgium), “Manhu” (China), “N’famady Kouyaté” (Guinea and United Kingdom), among others.

On another related matter, the festival this year would be expanded beyond the traditional festival grounds to Damai Central, transforming it into a vibrant public space featuring free arts, crafts, and wellness activities. In line with its sustainability effort, the RWMF2025, in its commitment to a long-term carbon offset initiative aimed to plant 10,000 trees to coincide with RWMF’s 30th anniversary in 2027 in which a portion of ticket sales would go to support such efforts.

There will dedicated recycling points, waste separation initiatives, and sustainable waste management throughout the festival will be provided to reduce waste and provide eco-stations. Free water refill stations will also be provided,” he said, adding that a strict ban would be imposed on the use of disposable plastics at the event.

Among other initiatives include 20 shuttle services to reduce carbon emissions and the use of eco-friendly products and biodegradable tableware.

Early bird ticket sales would be made available from March 8 to 21 – with three-day passes at RM635, RM 765 (pre-sale) and RM835 (door sale); one-day pass is RM235 (early bird), RM283 (pre-sale), and RM333 (door sale). Children’s pass (for those aged three to 12) is priced at RM80, while those under three can enter for free.

Special discounts are also available for bulk purchases during the pre-sale period. Groups purchasing between 10 to 30 tickets would receive a special rate of RM266 per adult for a one-day pass, while those who purchased more than 30 tickets would receive an even lower rate of RM250 per adult.