Kuching City buzzing with the Kuching Waterfront Festival 2025 featuring 11th International Dragon Boat Race, Sarawak Regatta and Borneo Craft Festival 2025.

The weather was just fine for the launching of the much awaited 11th Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta 2025 which is on from October 24 to 26 at our iconic Kuching Waterfront. We had the honour of having the right honourable Premier Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg who graced the launching ceremony this afternoon. His arrival at the launching venue was greeted by the thunderous applause by 2,143 members of the 62 teams from 21 countries who are competing in this year’s event. The international dragon boat race is part of the larger annual Kuching Waterfront Festival and the popular Sarawak Regatta where thousands of our local folks as well as foreign tourists will throng the Kuching Waterfront. 

New participating nations in this year international dragon boat race include England, Ireland, Canada, Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Macao, and Mongolia with the rowers joining returning teams from the USA, Spain, Japan, Iran, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Cyprus, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, and Malaysia (Sarawak, Sabah, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur). The total prize purse of RM100,000 along with winners’ trophies and medals.

The Sarawak Regatta which is on from October 31 to November 2 will be graced by His Excellency the Sultan of Pahang and members of the Royal Family, who will witness the traditional races, while the Sultanah of Pahang is expected to visit the Borneo Craft Festival 2025 to view Sarawak’s world famed traditional “Keringkam” crafts. Our Head of State, His Excellency Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and wife are also attending the Sarawak Regatta together with the visiting royal guests. 

In conjunction with the Kuching Waterfront festivities, the Borneo Craft Festival (FKB) Sarawak 2025 is also on from October 24 to November 2 and organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) through Kraftangan Malaysia. This year’s festival theme is “This Is Malaysian Craft” and it features 111 craft entrepreneurs from Sarawak and Sabah, showcasing the tapestry of Malaysia’s rich artisanal heritage.

IDECS2025 had attracted 10,000 participants from throughout Malaysia and overseas

The eighth edition of the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) which is on from 22 to 23 October at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) had attracted 10,000 participants from throughout Malaysia and from overseas including the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, China and Australia. 

I was delighted to be invited to the official opening ceremony held this morning and it was graced by our right honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg. The theme for this year’s conference is “AI and Green Evolution: Growth, Challenges and Community Resilience” with the keynote lineup speakers includes James Barrat, author of ‘Our Final Invention: Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era’, who will open with ‘The Intelligence Explosion: When AI Beats Humans at Everything’ keynote address. Dr Ayesha Khanna, a globally recognised AI expert and CEO of Addo, also presented an interesting topic on “Resilient by Design: Shaping Inclusive Futures in an AI-Driven World”. 

On top of that, a “Leaders’ Masterclass” on “The Augmented Team: The Missing Link in Leadership Development” is included and featuring human transformation expert, global speaker and author, Dr Justin Cohen. IDECS2025 is hosted by Sarawak Government and is jointly organised by the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and Sarawak Information Systems (SAINS) with Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (Bioeconomy Corporation) as strategic partner.

All eyes on the official launching of Sarawak's economy masterplan in 13th Malaysian Plan (13MP)

We were delighted with the official launching of Sarawak’s economy in the forthcoming 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) which was graced by our right honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg at Sheraton Hotel Kuching. The launching ceremony was attended by members of Sarawak State Cabinet together with heads from various agencies, departments and statutory bodies. In his speech, our esteemed premier had mentioned that Sarawak is poised in accelerating its civil service delivery while boosting transformation efforts and empowering private-sector participation as together we are heading towards realising our Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

As highlighted by the premier, Sarawak’s has solid foundation and is on the right track. Moreover, Sarawak’s goal is clear which to ensure every initiative under PCDS 2030 would deliver tangible outcomes that include improving lives, creating quality jobs, and expanding opportunities for all our local folks. In moving forward, Sarawak will leverage on its vast natural, capital assets and comparative advantages, combined with the latest technologies and ever ready skilled manpower, to drive more high-value downstream industries, expand green investments and create inclusive opportunities. This will ensure that none of our fellow Sarawakians is left behind in the fast moving journey towards equal prosperity.

As Sarawak’s state Finance and New Economy Minister, our premier also said that through strategic efforts, Sarawak is poised and plans to double the size of its economy from RM148.2 billion registered in 2024, to RM282 billion by 2030, with the potential median monthly household income targeted at RM15,000. This promising prospects also reflects our collective determination of uplifting the living standards of all Sarawakians whereby a stronger and more dynamic private sector will also be central to the projected growth. 

We strongly supports our premier’s pledge for Sarawak to remain fully committed in embedding environmental sustainability across all initiatives, with the long-term goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Such commitment will ensure that Sarawak’s growth under the 13MP would remain inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking. On the same note, our government have structured 15 key socio-economic sectors and enablers which will deliver strategic thrusts into tangible outcomes in line with the 13MP’s outlines for Sarawak. 

These sectors and enablers include energy transition; development of manufacturing and small-medium enterprises (SMEs); commercial agriculture; tourism, arts, culture and creative industries; forestry, natural assets (capital) management, and conservation; mining and oil and gas; infrastructure and utilities; transport and logistics; business services; digital transformation; innovation; education and human capital; social services; government transformation; and waste and circularity. According to our premier, ehese sectors reflect our evolving economic landscape and the focus on innovation-led, diversified and inclusive growth; and provide the framework through which Sarawak will deliver on its ambitious targets.

Overwhelming response to "Konsert Rakyat" at Padang Merdeka, Kuching held in conjunction with the 79th official birthday celebration of Sarawak's Governor

At least 20,000 of our local folks from around Kuching City, Samarahan, Serian, Bau and Lundu had thronged Padang Merdeka last night to watch the star-studded “Konsert Rakyat” held in conjunction with the 79th official birthday celebration of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

Fine weather was on our side and many had come as early as 6 pm to get the best seats at the concert that had showcased performances by top artistes including Aman Ra, Amir Masdi, Chopie Cakap, Alya Nabila, Apet Hafitz, Mawat, Adelynna, Keeyushee, Pinomal Band, Roxy Ixzy, and Black. The crowd was enthusiastic and had stay on until the event had end to watch the fireworks display over Padang Merdeka and surrounding areas.

We are delighted that our local folks were satisfied with the concert which was organised as part of Sarawak’s government efforts to make the Head of State’s birthday a celebration for the people. on the same evening, the State Banquet also took place at the State Legislative Assembly Complex and was graced by our Head of State who was accompanied by his wife, Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Binti Mohd. Sanusi together with local dignitaries including the right honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg.

Over 10,000 participants from 110 contingents took part in the grand parade at Padang Merdeka, Kuching

Over 10,000 participants from 110 contingents took part in the grand parade at Padang Merdeka, Kuching to mark the 79th official birthday celebration of Sarawak’s Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. Many of the contingents’ members had come very early in the morning to prepare  themselves for the exciting parade which had also attracted our city folks from throughout Kuching and its vicinities. The contingents which had taken part comprised of representatives from various state and federal uniformed bodies, government agencies, educational institutions, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Fine weather was also on our side and the three hour long parade went on smoothly and was also televised “live” over official social media channels by Unit Komunikasi Awam Sarawak (UKAS) and TV Sarawak (TVS). 

Padang Merdeka had came alive with vibrant colours, music and patriotic spirit during the much awaited parade and all had given their full attention on the royal box as His Excellency Tun Wan Junaidi, accompanied by his wife took the royal salute as participants from government departments, enforcement agencies, statutory bodies, schools, higher learning institutions and community organisations marched past in full ceremonial display.