DUN Sarawak: Sarawak is active in promoting local heritage

KUCHING, 14 Oct: The Government of Sarawak continues to step up efforts to identify, document and promote local heritage through the development of heritage traces, book publishing, digitisation as well as cooperation with communities and stakeholders.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts of Sarawak, Datuk Snowdan Lawan said the effort was implemented through various initiatives including community-based heritage trail development and support through the Sarawak Heritage and Arts Dialogue Fund.

"Among the initiatives are the Concrete Heritage Trail covering the areas of Concrete, Saratok, Pusa and Kabong", he said.

He said so in response to a question by Machan Member of the National Assembly (DUN) Allan Siden Gramong about the ministry's initiative to identify, document and promote Sarawak's local heritage at the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Conference today.

According to him, the heritage sites were identified and documented through interactive sessions as well as site visits with local communities and stakeholders including historical values, oral history, cultural practices and community memories.

"The information was also reinforced through document research, historical sources and research, in collaboration with agencies such as the Sarawak Museum Department, the Sarawak Customs Council and related ethnic associations", he said.

Snowdan said his ministry was also developing the Miri Heritage Track which was launched in 2025 after going through a two-year research and settlement process.

"The trail highlights the diversity of Miri's heritage including the history of the petroleum industry, World War II-related relics, local legends and stories as well as the history of community development that shaped the city's identity", he explained.

In addition, in Kuching, the Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHE) initiative focuses on four main components: Kampung Heritage, Historical Business Heritage, Riverfront Heritage and Historical Monuments Heritage.

"The approach aims to ensure heritage assets are fully identified before being developed as tourism products and services", Snowdan said.

According to Snowdan, in an effort to document the textile heritage, his ministry also published The Revival of Songket & Keringkam Sarawak: Honouring Datuk Amar Juma'ani, while Kuching Municipal Heritage Village focused on preserving the identity, history, culture and life of local communities.

"In addition to publishing, heritage documentation is also strengthened through focus group discussions (FGD), workshops, knowledge sharing and the involvement of entrepreneurs and heritage communities to record their knowledge, challenges and suggestions", he said.

Meanwhile, he said the Sarawak Kraf Council (SCC) also documented local craft products to preserve the history of Kerala kraf and Malay drums.