Gold in the ordinary: A story of belonging and one writer’s search for tales of the land we call home

Lau's representative (third left) receiving the gold place prize on her behalf from Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

By Yvonne T

KUCHING, Oct 17: For 31-year-old Sibu native Ivy Lau Chien Jie, first prize winner of the Adult Category of DayakDaily’s 2026 writing competition, inspiration can be found in the familiar, sometimes in places so ordinary that their stories go unnoticed.

Sungai Merah, a river so familiar it barely earns a second glance, became the starting point for Lau’s imagination when she began exploring its origins and the stories behind it. What emerged was a tale of migration, sacrifice and the search for belonging, centred around a place that holds meaning for generations who have made Sarawak home.

Her winning entry, the ‘The Crimson Covenant’ tells of her take on a tale shared among Sibu folks on the story of Sungai Merah and Sarawak’s pioneering history.

“I wanted to imagine what it might have felt like for the early settlers to arrive in an unfamiliar land, face hardship and work towards building a new home. Through Lau and the crimson river, I used fantasy and symbolism to explore sacrifice, perseverance and belonging,” she shared with DayakDaily.

Ivy Lau Chien Jie.

Although her interpretation of the tale includes fictional supernatural elements, she highlighted that the central message is about the human connection between people, history and the land they call home.

Folklore, she believed, is a wellspring of memory for a community.

“I believe folklore helps preserve a community’s cultural identity, values and collective memories. It allows younger generations to connect with the past in a way that is engaging and meaningful. Through stories such as The Crimson Covenant, I hope readers will become more curious about Sarawak’s history and heritage, while learning about perseverance, sacrifice and the meaning of belonging.

“Most importantly, I hope they will realise that the places around us often hold stories worth discovering and preserving.”

For Lau, writing is a craft shaped by observation, imagination and practice. She enjoys looking beyond the surface of familiar places and everyday experiences, searching for the stories they might conceal.

“I believe stories can come from ordinary moments, and sometimes, a simple observation can develop into an idea worth writing about.”

Winning the DayakDaily writing competition came as a surprise to her and has encouraged her to continue writing and exploring the stories of our local communities.

To aspiring writers, her advice is to be brave enough to begin, even when the words do not come easily or the first draft falls short of expectations.

“Every story begins with an idea, a memory or a simple observation. You do not need to have everything figured out before putting your thoughts into words. Write from your own perspective, keep learning and allow your ideas to grow. Sometimes, the stories we think are ordinary may hold meaning for someone else.

“My experience has taught me that taking the first step is important, and we should never underestimate the value of the stories we have to share.” –DayakDaily