Kuching City to host 50th edition of Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP)

It gives us great pleasure to announce that Kuching will host the 50th edition of the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP) on January 19 and 20, 2027. We were given the honour to become host the international programme which will bring youth from across Asia Pacific to our city. 

We welcome the programme which will enable the international participants to take part in local activities and meet our community leaders. Generally, the cruise ship has three ports of call whereby the participants will be taking part in youth programmes and pay courtesy calls to local leaders in the respective locations. In the past, the cruise has stopped at Port Klang in Selangor, Johor, Kota Kinabalu in Sabah and Kuantan in Pahang. 

Next year, it will be the first time the programme is held in Kuching, Sarawak.  I have announced these to our media friends during the press conference held at Baitul Makmur 2 Building after the courtesy visit by the Director General of Federal Youth and Sports Department (JBS), Puan Azura Abidin.

The SSEAYP is an annual, Japanese government-sponsored exchange programme initiated in 1974 to foster friendship and international cooperation among youth from Japan and ten ASEAN nations. Next year’s cruise will visit three ports — Cambodia, Malaysia (Kuching) and the Philippines — with cultural programmes, youth activities and leadership engagements at each stop. 

The planning of next year’s event is still ongoing, with a year to finalise itineraries, venues, welcoming ceremonies and participation details. We will set up a coordination committee to decide who will attend dinners, who will welcome the participants and which places will be visited by youth leaders from ASEAN and Japan. It will be discussed in upcoming meetings.

We are also expecting 211 youths aged 18 to 30 from 10 ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, to take part with the Japanese government is expected to fund the programme, while logistical costs at the port of call in Kuching will be jointly supported with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS). The organisers had expressed hope for a lively reception in Kuching and look forward to the attendance of Sarawak’s Premier for the official launching ceremony. 

Also present during the press conference were our Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) permanent secretary ,Dzulkornain Masron, SSEAYP International Malaysia (KABESA) president Datuk Che Muhamad Nordin Ismail and deputy president Dato Juhari Janan

Promising prospects of collaboration between Sarawak and FC Barcelona football club of Spain

Sarawak is working towards collaborating with FC Barcelona of Spain on sports development and we are hoping to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the renowned European football club soon. I have mentioned to our media friends that we are working on it, and I do hope that it will end with some kind of collaboration between Barcelona and Sarawak.

They (FC Barcelona) had expressed interest in working with Sarawak when he met the club's management during an official visit to Barcelona last year.  Any potential collaboration would go beyond football, as Catalonia - the Spanish state where Barcelona is located - had an integrated sports ecosystem. It will be about the development of sport, and we like the idea. Coaches, young footballers and young athletes could be sent there or come here from there.

I have disclosed these information when meeting our media friends after the courtesy visit by the Federal Youth and Sports Department (JBS) delegation led by the director general, Puan Azura Abidin who was in Kuching City recently to attend the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSYEAP) International Conference Borneo.

A few interesting matters of mutual interest are being formulated into the proposed MOU and I hope to see it materialise. Entering a strategic partnership with FC Barcelona will bring positive impacts on Sarawak's sports development efforts including alleviating the standards among our athletes, coaches and also officials.

Founded in 1899 FC Barcelona  or popularly known as "Barça") is a Catalan-based club that has become a global football icon, and is actually owned by its supporters. Among the world renown footballers in the football club are Lionel Messi, Johan Cruyff, Ronaldinho, Pep Guardiola to name a few.

Addressing the issue on athletes' selection for the forthcoming 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) for mutual benefits

The forthcoming 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) will be held in August and many states have already making preparations including athletes’ selection which may include those who are not representing their home states. For our contingent, I have given the assurance that athletes will not face any discrimination or be barred from competitions simply because they choose to represent a state other than Sarawak.

I have mentioned this to the media recently and actually, there are some Sarawakian athletes who have opted to compete for other states due to prior commitments or specific allowances received. If things cannot be worked out at that level, then there’s not much we can do. But we will not victimize or stop any athletes just because they do not want to be with us.

We will not kill off their career. We have to be fair to them. With regards to disputes over athlete representation, the responsibility to resolve these lies primarily with the individual sports associations. I have also acknowledged the challenges we face faces on athletes’ representation because some athletes who were developed and groomed by Sarawak represent other states, while some athletes from other states compete for Sarawak.

We do get feedbacks on athletes who have been with us for a few years. We are the ones who identify, groom, and expose them, but they come from another state.

Sometimes these athletes are already at a level that can guarantee gold medals, and the other states are not very happy about. I have also added that before SUKMA commences, there are usually a period when such issues are discussed and resolved amicably, with consideration given to the welfare and progression of the athletes.

The welfare and progression of the athletes are always taken into account. We look into who developed the athlete, and if it is us who are responsible on it, then the athletes should represent us, even if they are not permanent residents or considered Sarawakians.

My comments on the proposed establishment of 3rd Federal capital in Borneo

The Sarawak Government had not been consulted on the recent proposal to establish a third federal capital in Borneo and I have mentioned to our media friends on the necessity to address a few important matters first such as the fate of the long-alienated “Bandar 2020” land which was already given to the Federal Government decades ago. If plans to develop the so-called “third federal capital” come true, further land acquisition would inevitably be involved, and Sarawak had already relinquished 2,020 hectares of prime land to the federal government during the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad administration for the unrealised project.

It was meant to house federal administrative buildings along with accommodation for federal officers. However, nothing has happened on the 2,020 hectares of land. I was responding to Member of Parliament (MP) for Ampang, YB Rodziah Ismail from PKR who proposed for the establishment of a third capital in Borneo during the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s address at the Dewan Rakyat.

To us, the undeveloped land should be returned to the state if it remains unused, as the 2,020 hectare site remains highly valuable as Kuching continues to expand.

This is because if they are not willing to develop the land that has already been given, then the right thing to do is return it to the state. I had further questioned the need for another capital when Malaysia already has Kuala Lumpur as its national and commercial capital, and Putrajaya as its administrative capital.

I don’t see the need for too many capitals for a nation. The economic growth in Sabah and Sarawak does not hinge on hosting a federal capital…creating a third capital would involve further land acquisition and the conversion of state land into federal land, a move that I believe Sarawakians would oppose. Do we want another Labuan in Sarawak? I don’t think so. If the aim was to truly boost the economies of Sabah and Sarawak or drive development in rural and remote areas, there were far more practical ways to do so.

I have also pointed to long-standing issues such as inadequate rural infrastructure, dilapidated schools, hospitals and clinics, and stressed that these matters fell squarely under federal jurisdiction and should be prioritised before any grand new proposals are floated. Such proposal did not reflect federal policy and was raised by an individual, and that Sarawak had not been consulted on the matter.

Checking on the complimentary tourists' bus ride to Semenggoh Wildlife Sanctuary in Puncak Borneo, Kuching

On this Sunday morning I have joined the complimentary electric bus ride to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, in Jalan Puncak Borneo Kuching and the road journey was just fine despite the torrential rainfall the night before.

The event was organised by our Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTB) and it was aimed to see whether the travelling schedule needs to be adjusted in order to improve the tourists' experience, especially in ensuring punctual arrival at the Orang Utan sanctuary's feeding time. 

The adjustment of schedule is important and was made after it was discovered in recent times, the past schedules had caused some tourists to arrive late, thus missing out on the opportunity to witness the animal feeding session. 

Based on the old schedule, some buses were not fully utilised schedule needs to be adjusted to better meet the needs of tourists.  The Orang Utan feeding time at the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is actually held twice a day, at around 10 am and between 3 and 4 pm, and the new bus schedule has now been arranged earlier to meet present needs.

 

The visit to Semenggoh Wildlife Sanctuary was also to assess the effectiveness of the new routes and schedules introduced, as well as to ensure that the use of the electric bus service was more optimal and in line with the main activity schedule at the wildlife centre.

 

The existing free electric bus service also goes through several major hotels around Kuching City to facilitate the movement of tourists and locals. For the past years, our Sarawak government has provided four fully electric buses that are environmentally friendly, in line with the state's commitment towards sustainable tourism and reducing carbon emissions.  

The free electric bus service also involves travelling from Kuching city to the Sarawak Cultural Village in Pantai Damai, Santubong and interested visitors can check the travel schedule via the website https://mtcp.sarawak.gov.my or the Kuching Metro application. 

Attending the talk on "Interpreting Borneo in Britain and Sarawak"

I had attended a wonderful talk on "Interpreting Borneo in Britain and Sarawak" which was held at the Borneo Cultures Museum (BCM) in Kuching over the weekend and it serves more than a presentation of research findings but as a platform for reflection on how we can work together across institutions and borders. 

It was delivered by Dr Jennifer Morris, who is the Borneo Research Fellow and Henry Ginsburg Curator for Southeast Asia at the British Museum. Also present at the talk was Dr. Alexandra Green, the Curator for Southeast Asia at the British Museum.

In my opening speech, I have mentioned that Sarawak is positioning itself as an equal partner in international heritage research, focusing on cross-border collaboration, community engagement and the responsible interpretation of Borneo’s cultural collections. 

We welcome such initiatives which reflect Sarawak’s readiness to engage meaningfully with international institutions while safeguarding its cultural heritage. I have also mentioned research involving Borneo collections should go beyond academic study, with emphasis placed on cross-border collaboration and shared responsibility in managing heritage materials.

The talk organised by our Sarawak Museum Department had involved researchers and museum professionals from Sarawak and the United Kingdom (UK). The research and collections teams from Sarawak and the British Museum had undertaken extensive work to share information on the Charles Hose collections stored both in Kuching and in the UK. 

We must continue efforts in reconstructing the historical and cultural contexts in which the collections were formed and preserved. I am also delighted to se that this project has not been confined to academic research alone. The community engagement activities conducted in the Baram region last year demonstrate a strong commitment to reconnecting museum collections with source communities. 

Such approach will align closely with Sarawak’s values where heritage research must not be extractive in nature; it must be reciprocal, inclusive and grounded in respect for local knowledge and lived experience.

I have also mentioned on the digitisation of the British Museum’s Charles Hose photographic collection which had significantly improved access to heritage materials. This is because by making the collection available online, it had created a valuable public resource for future research into Sarawak’s history and cultural landscapes. We must continue to encourage heritage research to be done because potentially it can inspire innovation, education and meaningful opportunities for Sarawak’s younger generation. 

Well-researched and responsibly interpreted heritage will enhances Sarawak’s global profile, attracts cultural tourism, and strengthens our sense of identity as a diverse and dynamic society. I also strongly believe that close partnerships between museums, researchers and communities are essential to ensure our cultural narratives are preserved and communicated with accuracy, sensitivity and depth.

Courtesy visit by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AirBorneo

 It was a pleasure to receive the courtesy visit by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AirBorneo, Wan Ardian Mohd Wira Aminuddin who dropped by our office at Bangunan Baitul Makmur II, Petra Jaya Kuching. Also present during the visit was Morshidi Fredrik, the Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) and our media friends who attended the press conference that was held later the same day. 

They had fielded a number of questions including the possibility for AirBorneo which is expected to be appointed as one of the official carriers for the 2027 SEA Games. Potentially it is possible with the state-owned airline targeting the start of its jet operations by September 2027.

The move is in line with Sarawak having secured the hosting 17 of the SEA Games events, including the opening ceremony, which will require higher-capacity aircraft to facilitate the movement of athletes, officials and delegations from the 10 participating Southeast Asian countries. 

I have mentioned to our media friends we have requested for AirBorneo be considered as one of the official airlines for the SEA Games. This is also because most of the events, including the opening ceremony, will be held in Sarawak.

AirBorneo is expected to introduce at least three jet aircraft next year as part of its preparation for the Games, subject to board approval and aircraft availability. Our state airline has considered leasing narrow-body jets capable of operating regional routes, including to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Among the possibilities of aeroplanes that could be used are the Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s models. They will not replace the ATR aircraft or Twin Otters currently used for Rural Air Services (RAS) within Sarawak 

But we must understand the fleet expansion plans by AirBorneo shall remain subject to market conditions, noting that aircraft availability is currently constrained globally.AirBorneo management is to focus on network planning and fleet requirements before making any acquisition decisions. 

The airlines’ operational systems had been fully transitioned from the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) following a system cutover on January 14, including flight operations, counter systems and the IATA two-letter code change from MH to MY. We are indeed delighted to have AirBorneo had taken off and currently operates eight ATR aircraft and six Twin Otters from its hubs in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and Miri.

All round applause to organisers of "Rentap Fighting Championship 7.0"

I have congratulated organisers of this year’s “Rentap Fighting Championship 7.0” which had been successful in attracting thousands of spectators and supporters at the Summer Mall shopping complex. The majority of the Muay Thai fans consists of our young folks and among the participants in this exciting championship had come from throughout Sarawak, West Malaysia and Thailand. The crowd went ecstatic when some of the bouts had featured popular young exponents who had represented Sarawak in previous Malaysia Games (SUKMA) and Malaysia in last year’s SEA Games held in Bangkok, Thailand. 

In recent years, our State Government through Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) as well as Ministry of Youth, Sports & Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) had lend support to the organisers. 

A pat on the back to the organisers which had added a meaningful program that is an anti-bullying awareness campaign. It is an interesting initiative that took off at the Summer Shopping Mall with the objective of promoting child safety. The laudable campaign had also reinforced the message of martial arts not meant to encourage bullying, but to nurture discipline, respect and contribute positive character development. 

Thumbs up to the program which was also expanded into educational sessions for parents, particularly on issues related to child abuse and mitigating efforts to address the issue.

 

Proud moments for local folks with ground breaking ceremony of iconic Samarahan Boulevard

The ground breaking ceremony of the iconic Samarahan Boulevard was performed by the right honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg and it was indeed a proud moment for our local folks in Kota Samarahan because it is set to be the longest and largest boulevard. The boulevard is ted on an area of covering 23.3 hectares (57.28 acres) and a 1.4-kilometre stretch with the design aimed at making it our state’s new signature social and recreational hub. 

In his speech, our esteemed Premier had mentioned that the Samarahan Boulevard will offer a mix of family-friendly leisure spots, active zones for health and wellness and nature-focused areas with jogging including cycling trails. According to our Premier, the boulevard will become part of the green space for locals and it is important  because people cannot live solely on commercial activities and they need fresh oxygen. Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari had also revealed 1,000 acres of land near the boulevard will be declared as a green area. Once declared, the land cannot be used for commercial or housing development unless approval is obtained from the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, thus providing legal protection against future land use changes. 

The project is divided into two main phases and includes a mixed zone for casual family activities while an active zone will focus on health and sports. A passive zone will be included to highlight environmental appreciation, sensory parks and slow-paced recreation for people of all ages. 

Major state events such as celebrations for the Sarawak Governor’s Birthday and large parades have always been held at Padang Merdeka in Kuching City often causing severe traffic disruptions due to growing participation. Thus the development of the large boulevard in Kota Samarahan will serve as a new iconic landmark and meeting point for large-scale events. 

My comments on proposed limit of tenure of Premier's post

The Sarawak government has yet to decide on whether to limit the tenure of the Premier’s post to two terms or a maximum of five years. I have made my comments to our media friends recently and had mentioned on our state’s stance following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement that the Federal Government would table a Bill this month to set a maximum term for the Prime Minister’s post.

Well, that depends on the Premier (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leadership, but at the moment, it remains status quo,. On a personal level, I have said there are pros and cons to limiting the tenure of the prime minister.

If one is good and able to bring progress, harmony, stability, and still young and healthy to lead the nation, why should we not allow him to continue? It would be such a waste. Why must we limit his tenure to just two term or 10 years? If he or she is not good or incapable, his or her party and the people will find ways bring him down.

I have pointed out that China and Russia — two global superpowers — used to have a two-term limit for their top leaders but have since done away with this. I see this two-term proposal as a political polemic. In PMX’s (Anwar) case, it was in the PH (Pakatan Harapan) manifesto drawn last or 2022 general election, where he has to be seen committed to that pledge, lest it will haunt him.

Personally, I am OK with a prime minister leading the nation beyond the 10 years. A good leader is not easy to find. History has shown that some past nations are great because they have great leaders who led their nation way beyond 10 years.

During a New Year’s special assembly held in Putrajaya, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had mentioned that he is reviving a reform pledge that was among PH’s key electoral promises. The PH chairman said the Bill would likely be tabled at the upcoming Parliament sitting at the end of January, alongside another proposed law to separate the powers of the attorney general and public prosecutor. According to him, every position should have a term limit … this includes the prime minister’s, so (we) will table a Bill to limit the term of a prime minister to 10 years.

Ushering the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026) campaign with enthusiasm and excitement

My thanks to all our media friends who provided wide news coverage on the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026) campaign which started on New Year’s Day. This morning I was also invited by Sarawak’s branch of Tourism Malaysia and the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) to welcome the arrival of passengers and visitors at the Kuching International Airport.

hashtag

During the media interview, I had expressed my excitement and enthusiasm with the organising the VMY2026 that is expected to attract 43 million visitors to our country this year. The Sarawak Government through our Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) is also ready and committed to supporting Malaysia's target of attracting 43 million visitors this year. 

As of November last year, our country had recorded 38.3 million visitor arrivals while Sarawak itself had almost achieved its 5 million target but arrivals as of November 2025 was 4.42 million. If the full data is received, I believe we may be able to achieve the target of 40 million visitors for the year 2025. Whether the target is achieved or not, it is not a big deal because we have shown good performance based on the joint efforts given by all stakeholders in the tourism industry.