Ministry ventures with local communities on cultural heritage

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THE Ministry for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts in collaboration with the divisional tourism task groups is working closely with local communities to involve in the planning and organisation of heritage activities.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan said that nearly half of the events held in Sarawak are related to cultural heritage.

“Some of the localised heritage events include Reliving the Culture: Sarawak Malay, Traditional Wedding at Rumah Warisan Tan Sri Abang Ahmad Urai, Kuching, Kuching Inter-Cultural Mooncake Festival, Bung Bratak Day in Bau, Borneo Cultural Festival in Sibu, Pesta Kaul in Mukah.

“Other than that, it included the Kapit Dayak Cultural Festival, Pesta Badudun and Lumba Kerbau and Pesta Babulang dan Lumba Kerbau in Limbang, Irau Aco Lun Bawang in Lawas, Bintangor Festival, Pesta Danu in Serian, and many more,” he said.

He said this in reply to Datuk Ibrahim Baki (GPS-Satok) during the question-and-answer session on Wednesday.

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Earlier, Ibrahim has asked what is the ratio of heritage-based tourism programmes in the tourism calendar and the initiatives taken to empower local communities to organise such programmes and its promotion.

Snowdan also said while the Ministry provides partial funding, local communities contribute by selling traditional food products, crafts, and participating in performances and traditional games showcasing their cultural heritage during these events.

“This approach not only empowers the local communities to showcase their heritage and promote cultural awareness, it also fosters community-driven tourism activities,” he said.

On another note, he said Sarawak Craft Council (SCC) also organises programmes and events such as Craft Weeks and Craft Bazaar to empower local communities to promote their products in the market.

“SCC also enhances the visibility of local craft products by participating in international, regional and local events such as Rainforest World Music Festival, National Craft Day, MAHA Fair, MATTA Fair, Showcase Usahawan Sarawak (MINTRED), Borneo Cultural Festival, Festival Craft Borneo and a few more,” he added.

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When answering a supplementary question, Snowdan said his Ministry has implemented several strategies to strengthen Sarawak’s creative industry, focusing on cultural preservation, economic growth, and job creation.

“These are made possible with the establishment of the Sarawak Arts Council (SAC) under the Sarawak Arts Council Ordinance 2008 and the Sarawak Craft Council under the Sarawak Craft Council Ordinance 2023.

“Through the SAC’S MYSENI annual grant of RM1,000,000, 40 applications amounting to RM953,000 has been approved, benefitting nine individuals, 12 associations, eight communities, and 11 companies as of November this year.

“The SCC shall now be more empowered to lead, develop and enhance the craft industry with the expanded responsibility defined in their ordinance to enable them exercise their promotional and marketing functionality, research & development capacity and industrial development opportunity.

“This shall allow our craftsmen to benefit economically enabling the creative industry to thrive with Sarawak’s brand name,” he said.

He added one effort worth mentioning is the organising of the first Borneo Craft Global Expo and Conference 2024, an international event this coming November 27 to December 1, which aims to celebrate Kuching as International City of Craft under the theme “Globalising Locals”.

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“This event expects 300 local, regional and international craftsmen exhibiting their products at The Podium, Waterfront Kuching and another 400 participants will attend the conference at Hilton Hotel, Kuching,” he said.

He said the Ministry has also supported this industry to thrive by way of the Facilitation Fund for Heritage, Arts, and Culture through the organising of 277 events with 80 in 2022, 72 in 2023, and 130 in 2024 amounting RM17,249,361 to foster capacity-building programmes for creative industry players and advancing heritage, arts, and cultural preservation efforts.

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