KUCHING, October 27- Sarawak is committed in preserving its culture and heighten efforts in positioning Sarawak in the eyes of the world.
Based in the demographic statistics for the first quarter of 2019, Sarawak has 2.81 million people with a melting pot of 27 ethnic groups.
In line with the second International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities 2021 (ICOSSH) 2021, themed ‘The Enculturation of Borneo Ethnic’ focuses on the study of human behaviour and interaction especially on diverse ethnicities in Sarawak and Borneo.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg officiated the event at a renowned hotel here, today.
The chief minister in his speech said he Sarawak State Government has set aside a sum of RM10 million under the 2022 Sarawak Budget to set up the Heritage, Arts and Culture Facilitation Fund next year to increase tourism programs and promotions on the state of Sarawak, a land that is rich in culture and ethnicity, and diverse in artistic expression.
“Although the Sarawak Government is in pursuit of developing a digital economy, the important aspects of the local culture must be preserved and promoted”, he said.
The conference marks its second year following the collaboration of the Sarawak’s Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture and University Putra Malaysia (UPM) will see seven keynote speakers from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Philippines.
Meanwhile, its minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in his speech took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the organisers for successfully organising an event of such scale.
“The findings of the conference should be kept in a database form as a reference to researchers and the state government to formulate state development policies in the future.
Also present was UPM chairman Datuk Seri Syed Razlan Syed Putra Jamallail.
