Our folks together with others from all over the nation including leaders had extended their condolences to Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on the recent passing of his beloved wife, Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang. All our thoughts are with the family of the deceased, and may they continue to be patient and steadfast. Together we pray that the soul of Allahyarmah may be forgiven of all sins and be granted a special place by Allah’s side.
I have congratulated the Sarawak Artists Society who together with their counterparts from Brunei Negara Darulsalam for having jointly organised the inaugural “Brunei-Sarawak Arts Exhibition” at Borneo Cultures Museum (BCM) on 20 to 26 June. The theme for week-long exhibition is “Neighbours In Heart, Friendship In Arts”. The exhibition also brings together the creative works of 64 artists from Sarawak and Brunei who showcase 99 wonderful paintings that reflect identity, tradition and contemporary expression. Certainly another interesting event for our local folks to attend especially canvas arts and painting lovers.
I had another busy weekend for me and this morning I had the pleasure to represent our right honourable Premier of Sarawak the graduation ceremony for the “ASPIRE-Threads of Hope” programme. It is a wonderful community related initiative supported by Yayasan Hasanah of Kuala Lumpur in collaboration with the Brooke Trust. The program is designed to empower underserved youth, including those from rehabilitation and institutional schools such as Sekolah Henry Gurney, Tunas Bakti School Kuching and Taman Seri Puteri Kuching (TSP Kuching), through heritage-based skills training.
Aspire Threads of Hope" is aptly a wonderful programme that showcases creative works of participants in local embroidery products namely “Keringkam” and “Kain Songket” as the medium for connection, storytelling, and community building, possibly with a focus on empowering youths. The theme of the programme suggests giving the participants hope and aspiration, interwoven with the intrinsic value of our local embroidery crafts and textile.
The Brooke Heritage Trust is non-governmental organisation (NGO) which is dedicated to sharing Sarawak’s unique history and rich traditional heritage. It was originally founded to safeguard the Rajah Brooke family’s collection of papers and artefacts but it has evolved into a volunteer-led charity organization with a mission to share and explore the history and heritage of the Brooke dynasty in Sarawak. It has undertaken various community-related projects that engage, inform and inspire and encourage responsible care of our world.
The organising of the inaugural “Mercure Mural Fest and Arts Conference 2025” at Mercure Hotel in Miri on June 4 to 14 was much welcomed and commendable because it will promote our tourism attraction particularly in the Northern Region. I had the pleasure to have represented our right honourable Premier of Sarawak for the official opening ceremony held at Mercure Hotel in Miri.
During the opening ceremony, I have commended the organisers for having attracted numerous entries for the event which had the theme "Beyond Art: Evolving in 50 Years,”. The event which involve global artists, the special needs community, and local residents is showcasing large-scale murals, installations, artist takeovers, talks, workshops, and rooftop parties. The staging of event which aims to envision Miri's future through arts has provided another good platform for our local artists and arts lovers to meet up in getting the latest updates of the arts scene.
The Sarawak government is keen and committed to supporting the funding, infrastructure, and policy development that will nurture local mural artists and the growing creative industry, aiming to leave a lasting public arts legacy on the global stage and for our future generations to come.
The organising of the event in Miri is a good way of recognising the powerful impacts of mural art in revitalising the city and promoting cultural narratives through artistic impressions that aim to transforms blank walls into lively expressions of heritage, creativity and imagination. Indirectly it is able to ignite our local folks sense of pride and belonging while attracting visitors, and boosting the creative economy, benefiting both artists and related businesses alike.
I had opportunity to visit the Miri Handicrafts Centre in Jalan Brooke, Miri over the weekend to catch a glimpse of the "WAK Miri Festival" which is on from June 13 to 15. The community driven event is now entering its second edition and is aimed to transform the northern city into a stage for Sarawak’s diverse artistic talents.
During my brief visit there, I had commended the organisers for having attracted the participation of our local creative community members in the various activities which include a dynamic mix of exhibitions, live music, theatre, workshops and cultural showcases,.
I have also assured our Sarawak's government support through the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) which will empower the local creatives and to celebrate Miri’s growing cultural scene.
Among the exciting line up of programmes featured in this year's WAK Miri Festival include a visual arts exhibition inspired by natural themes; Music Portal, where local bands and musicians perform live; and "Emily of Emerald Hill", a solo theatre performance of the iconic Peranakan monodrama being staged in Miri for the first time.
Another exciting aspect of the festival also includes a "Creative Marketplace" showcasing Sarawakian craftsmanship, lifestyle products and local culinary favourites. Across the city, workshops and fringe activities in storytelling, heritage crafts and movement arts are engaging our local communities and visitors alike.
