Showcasing our unique indigenous culinary heritage and cultural identity at the "Serumpun Sarawak" event in Osaka, Japan

It is heartening to see the encouraging response to our “Serumpun Sarawak” event which was held at the “World Expo 2025” of Osaka, Japan on August 5 to 8. The event is aimed to showcase our indigenous culinary heritage and cultural identity on the global stage including at the international expo with the visitors’ experience there is curated by international chef and indigenous gastronomy advocate Chef James Won in collaboration with Alas Collective.

The World Expo itself is a good avenue for us to organise the “Serumpun Sarawak” because visitors from all over the globe because it is being held every five years in different global locations with Osaka, Japan becoming the host for this year’s edition that runs from April until mid-October. The event is held at Seaside Studio Caso as part of World Expo 2025, where visitors are invited to try out Sarawak’s indigenous cuisines and participate in the various activities which include food tasting, storytelling and cultural performances.

We record our appreciation to those who had supported the organising of the inaugural event namely the local collaborators, including Earthlings Coffee Workshop, Tanoti Crafts, The Tuyang Initiative and Culinary Heritage & Arts Society Sarawak (CHASS). Apart from the unique experience the visitors can look forward to, the event will also leave good impressions among the foreign guests on indigenous ingredients, our multi-ethnicities which promote Sarawak as a leading cultural and culinary destination for tourists.

Sarawak's participation in the "World Expo 2025" in Osaka, Japan

I am leading a delegation from Sarawak at the “World Expo 2025” in Osaka, Japan which had attracted the participation of many countries worldwide including Malaysia. The World Expo itself is unique because it is being held every five years in different global locations with Osaka, Japan become host for this year’s edition that runs from April until mid-October.

Throughout the “Sarawak Week” event held at the Malaysia Pavilion, visitors from many countries were treated to a series of cultural showcases, including live demonstrations of “Buri weaving”, a traditional Iban craft, alongside renditions of the famous Sape music performances in which the activities showcase the cultural highlights of the our local indigenous heritage and diversity.

One of the key focus of our delegation’s engagement at the expo was also on the promotion of ‘Sarawak Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) programme that is well known to offer long-term residency options for foreign nationals who are interested to reside in our state popularly reputed for its peaceful environment, affordability, and multicultural charm. Our Government had chosen to participate in the expo which can serve as a good avenue to raise awareness and generate interest in the programme among global visitors and potential investors. 

Through Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts (MTCP), we had set up the “Sarawak Pavilion” at the Malaysia Pavilion which had attracted the attention of visitors including the local as well as international communities. I had also led our delegation visits to several international pavilions, including our ASEAN neighbour Indonesia, Germany, and Saudi Arabia. We hope together with the mentioned countries there are areas for us to explore tourism partnerships and cultural exchange opportunities. 

We hope to leave the foot prints of commitment to Sarawak’s sustainable tourism, creative industry development, and global collaboration and our participation in this year’s world can reflect the a significant step forward in Sarawak’s mission to become a globally connected, culturally rich, and investor-friendly destination in Malaysia as well as the Island of Borneo.

Supporting our Federal Government's proposed tourism investment zones under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP)

Recently I was asked to comment by our media friends on the proposed tourism investment zones announced by the right honourable Prime Minister under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) and our Sarawak Government will fully support such efforts but the important thing is that there is no overlap in the undertaking. This is because is the tourism investment zones mentioned shall include areas like Mulu National Park, Niah Caves, the Kuching Geo Delta Park and the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF)…then we are indirectly on the same track. 

I have also mentioned that we have not been formally briefed on its implementation and is awaiting clarification from the Federal Government over the proposed special tourism investment zones that would be located in Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Sarawak. The zones are also said to be jointly developed by the respective state governments and private sector in conjunction with Visa Malaysia 2026.

But we are ready to cooperate and I have mentioned that Sarawak’s current tourism strategy had already been proven to be successful, with tourism receipts have exceeded RM1 billion every month with the targeted 5 million visitors had more or less achieved by end of this year. Sarawak on its part had already been actively promoting many of its destinations even without the “imaginary zoning” and we will continue it as part of our state’s current tourism strategy this year.

Thanking ASEAN Foundation and Maybank Foundation for having Kuching as their destination of this year's "Youth EdXchange Programme 2025"

We thank both the ASEAN Foundation and Maybank Foundation for having selected Kuching as one of the destinations for participants of this year's "Youth EdXchange Programme 2025" under their "ASEAN Empowering Youth Across ASEAN (EYAA)" programme. 

A total of 60 delegates from all 10 ASEAN countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are taking part in the two-day programme in Kuching.

While in the city, they were exposed to Sarawak’s environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation, and youth-led innovation in sustainable development. I was given the honour to represent the right honourable Premier of Sarawak at the closing ceremony of the programme. 

At the closing ceremony, I have mentioned that our young generation is the nation's most important asset for the future and also for the present days.We hope the participants had enjoyed experiences throughout the exchange programme from local community immersion to sustainability workshops and project pitching.

Their active participation are proof that when young people are empowered and given the platform, they will rise and lead with a purpose. We welcome the organising of the international programme which provides a platform for young people to connect with ASEAN youths through environmental education, sustainability, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Celebrating Sarawak's Women Day 2025 on modest scale

This year’s Women Day celebration in Sarawak was held on a modest scale and it was launched by our right honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg who was joined by over 4,500 guests who attended the ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of State Legislative Assembly Building at Petra Jaya in Kuching. 

During the launching ceremony, our Premier had announced that Sarawak will be the first state in Malaysia to set up a diversity, equality and inclusivity unit known as “D2EI” in short for Department of Diversity, Equality, Equity and Inclusivity under the state’s Department of Women and Family Development. Our Premier had mentioned that the D2EI principles are in line with his administration’s post-Covid-19 development strategy, which emphasises inclusivity in our multi-racial communities.

Among the highlights in this year’s celebration had included the Premier of Sarawak Awards that had acknowledged the recipients for their commitment to inclusive leadership and gender equity in the workplace. Sarawak Energy Berhad had received the Special D2EI Responsive Organisation Award its leadership in fostering diversity, equality, equity and inclusivity through their Sarawak Energy Leading Women Network (SELWN), which supports women’s advancement into leadership and decision-making roles.

Chairing the special board meeting of Sarawak Sports Corporation

Recently I had chaired the special board meeting of the Sarawak Sports Corporation which was held at Hilton Hotel and among the agendas were to discuss administrative matters and the direction of the state's sports development so that it will be more strategic and inclusive.

We also had a brief appreciation ceremony for all board members who had served with us for the past 3 years from 2022 to 2025. As chairman of the board, I have expressed gratitude and appreciation to all board members for their unwavering commitment and contributions in strengthening sports development in Sarawak. The dedication and wisdom of our board members had been the cornerstone of the success of Sarawak Sports Corporation and Sarawak State Sports Council over the past three years.

Over 300 had participated in the inaugural Sarawak International Conference on Youth Mental Health

The organising of the inaugural Sarawak International Conference on Youth Mental Health 2025 by Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) together with Institute For Youth Research Malaysia (IYRES) is part of our government’s commitment to supporting the mental, emotional, and social well-being of the young generation. 

I have mentioned these during the closing ceremony of the conference which ended on July 29 at The Waterfront Hotel Kuching and had pointed out that mental health cannot be treated in isolation but must be approached holistically by addressing the external systems that influence youth development. I had urged all parties concerned for a cultural shift in how society addresses youth mental wellness—from silence and stigma to proactive support and inclusion. The two-day conference had attracted over 300 participants from all walks of life including students. 

This is because we are living in the digital era in which youth mental health is increasingly subjected to pressures from various factors that had forced our young people to navigate the complex world which is full of academic pressure, economic and employment uncertainty, breakdown in family structures, and sadly, limited access to support systems from relevant bodies.

It is alarming for us to know that according to recent global reports, one in five adolescents is estimated to struggle with mental health issues including in Malaysia whereby the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) in recent years had shown a worrying increase in depression, anxiety, and stress levels among youths as well as those in Sarawak.

What we need to address is the problem of many youths who suffer in silence are willing to seek help, but the help they most needed is either inaccessible, unaffordable, or stigmatised such as in rural and marginalised areas, mental health services remain difficult to get. Even in urban areas, young people often lack the convenience, the confidence, or the safe space to voice their mental health problems.

Thus, the organising of the conference is timely and essential as mental health is fundamentally a development issue. We must be committed to equipping our youths to become the next generation of leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and capable change makers. As such, we must begin by ensuring their mental resilience, emotional well-being and psychological safety.”

Efforts to organise similar conference is encouraged because it serves more than just a discussion platform, but also as a catalyst for change—inspiring new perspectives, fostering impactful connections, and showing our deep commitment to prioritising youth mental health in all areas of development.

Good turnout for the second edition of Kuching Half Marathon Heritage Run with 3,200 runners taking part

Sarawak Government through the relevant ministries and agencies will continue to support the organising sporting events including marathons and fun runs that encourage our local folks to have healthy lifestyle. We congratulate the City Joggers Club (CJC) for having organised the second edition of Kuching Half Marathon Heritage Run which had attracted 3,200 entries throughout Sarawak and from 22 foreign countries. 

I thanked the organisers for having invited me to give away prizes to the winners of the event which had served not only as a race but also serves as a unique running experience that highlights Kuching’s historical landmarks, green scenery, cultural identity and iconic murals. 

The objective of the event is commendable because it promotes a healthy and active lifestyle, attract sports tourism to Sarawak, showcase our local heritage, culture and green spaces, and strengthen both community and family bonding. With the theme “Embrace the Legacy, Run the Journey”, the run features three race categories: the 21km half marathon, 10km competitive run, and a 5km fun run for leisure participants and families.

My comments on "Turun Anwar" public rally at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur

Recently I was asked to comment on the much talked about “Turun Anwar” rally which saw nearly 20,000 people descending on Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur but such activity should be dismissed because it is most inappropriate. I have expressed my personal opinion and the right honourable Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should be given room to continue leading the nation until the end of his term.

To me, it was inappropriate to call for a leader to relinquish his duties before the end of his term, and that having such rally did not contribute to our country’s political stability. When elections are approaching, all sorts of things happen. If he has been elected and appointed, let him complete his term in office.

Just because of a small mistake, we should not immediately demand his resignation. That’s not the right approach because it is without elaborating what the “mistake” was. The “Turun Anwar” rally held was organised by PAS Youth, with protesters calling for our prime minister to step down over the issues of rising cost of living, among others. The organisers had initially hoped for the turnout of 300,000 participants but Kuala Lumpur police had estimated that only 18,000 people took part in the rally.

Calling on our local folks in Daro, Mukah to continue supporting their popular "Pesta Daro"

I had called on our folks in Daro, Mukah to continue wooing visitors coming from other parts of Sarawak by supporting locally organised events such as the annual "Pesta Daro" which over the years had attracted thousands of people from all walks of life.

I had also commended the Daro District Office which had featured "Pesta Daro" as the iconic festival that the all support from the local communities due to its unique attraction of various programs and interesting activities.

Apart from that, the event had provided good avenue for the local business communities including small medium enterprises (SME) to showcase their variety range of products as well as household goods at affordable prices.

I was recently invited by the organising committee of "Pesta Daro 2025" to grace the closing ceremony which was held at the town centre and the event was also attended by his honourable Safiee Haji Ahmad, the state assemblyman for Daro.

According to him, the construction of the RM15 million Daro District Farmers Market project will provide new facilities and support the coastal district's rapid transformation as a major centre for agricultural and fisheries production.

The upcoming permanent market would also be a major catalyst in strengthening the local economic growth which has long depended on these two sectors.     

Tribute to advocates of our traditional "songket" and "keringkam" fabrics

Last night I was invited to grace the dinner held in conjunction with this year’s “Nuansa Seni - Festival Kelestarian Budaya Melayu Sarawak 2025” which was held at The Waterfront Hotel in Kuching and it featured the awarding of accolades to a number of local craftsmen as well as advocates of our traditional Malay fabrics namely the well-known “songket” and “keringkam”.

We had a great evening which featured an interesting line up of programmes which included special presentation of appreciation to various local Malay craftsmen and women who are passionate advocates in the weaving of our traditional “songket” and “keringkam”. Our government through Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) had once again supported this wonderful initiative that is aimed to ensure sustainability of the weaving and production of Malay fabrics of perfections. 

Also present during this function were Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, the Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak and Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Bt. Sayeed Aman Ghazali, our Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations).

Welcoming participants of "ASEAN Youth Volunteers Programme" to Kuching City

We were delighted to welcome participants of this year’s “ASEAN Youth Volunteers Programme”  who were in Kuching City over the weekend as part of visits schedule to Sarawak and Sabah. It was an honour for me to be invited by the organiser, Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia (KBS) as guest of honour at the welcoming ceremony cum hi tea which was held at our English Teahouse Restaurant of Dataran Ibu PertiwiKu, Petra Jaya over the weekend. 

Also present was the honourable Adam Adli, the Deputy Minister of Youth & Sports Malaysia who was accompanied by Puan Azura Abidin, the Director General of Jabatan Belia & Sukan Negara. In my speech, I have urged the participants to take the opportunity to get acquainted with their counterparts from other countries in order to establish rapport and understanding among one another. Despite their brief visit to Sarawak, 

I have also called on them to interact with our local folks consisting of different ethnicities, cultures and traditions. Sarawak is blessed with various natural wonders, flora and fauna that are also tourism attractions for foreign as well as local visitors. We hope the participants will have a wonderful stay in Kuching and to bring home the sweet memories of their experience of being here. 

Maintaining Sarawak's Youth age limit to 40 despite the Federal Government's decision to lower the cap to 30 as of January 2026

Sarawak government has agreed to maintain its current youth age limit at 40 despite the Federal Government’s decision to lower the cap to 30 as of January 2026.  Our government will retain the autonomy to determine the age threshold for local youths at state level and we are not bound by what has been decided at Federal level. I have mentioned this to our media friends during the sidelines of an event in Limbang recently because for now, Sarawak’s definition of youth remains between the ages of 15 and 40.

I have also mentioned that by reducing the age limit abruptly, there would be implications because presently there are many programmes which are offered and undertaken by various local government ministries as well as agencies to support youth development.

There are many potential applicants and participants who would be affected if the age limit was lowered suddenly. Many individuals at that age may also have just completed their studies and if we were to bring the cut-off limit to below 40, they may no longer be eligible to apply for funding and assistances. Thus, that is why we are keeping the current youth age policy in place for Sarawak.

The Federal Government through Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia had recently announced that the implementation of the new youth age cap of 30 effective January 1 next year, under the Youth Societies and Youth Development (Amendment) Act 2019. The present national youth age limit remains at 40 until the new policy will officially be enforced.

Launching of "Serumpun Sarawak" at Le Meridien hotel in Kuala Lumpur

The recent launch of “Serumpun Sarawak” at Le Meridien hotel in Kuala Lumpur on July 10 is set to showcase our ingenious culinary heritage and unique cultural identity to the world. It gave me great pleasure to grace the launching ceremony and press conference to announce the staging of the forthcoming exciting event in Osaka, Japan on August 5 to 8 and followed by Mulu, Miri in October. In my speech, I have commended both Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and our Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) for undertaking the initiative that will be curated by the international chef, James Won who is also a well known gastronomy chef with the collaboration from Alas Collective. 

On the world stage, many will be interested in “Serumpun Sarawak” to be held in Osaka, Japan and to be hosted at Seaside Caso as part of the coming World Expo 2025 there. Part of our programme there will include introduction to Sarawak’s local indigenous cuisines , food tasting and cultural performances on various ethnicities that we have back home. 

Moving forward, the event will be held in Mulu next taking place at UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mulu National Park. The event will showcase among others the blend of indigenous culinary practices, ecological awareness and cultural narratives. It will reflect the initiative’s emphasis on sustainability and local empowerment. For the record, the “Serumpun Sarawak” event is supported by local collaborators who include Earthlings Coffee Workshop, Tanoti Crafts, The Tuyang Initiative and Culinary Heritage & Arts Society Sarawak (CHASS). We hope the event in Mulu will highlight not only the indigenous ingredients while empowering our local communities and promoting Sarawak as a leading cultural and culinary destination in this part of the world. We also hope the inaugural event will soon become a good avenue for connection, resilience and transformation as it stamps another significant and economic milestones for us folks in Sarawak.