By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Nov 21: A prominent Sarawak figure, former beauty queen and singer Datin Senorita Linang, has been named the Anugerah Tokoh Seni Sarawak 2025.
The 81-year-old Senorita was not only a beauty pageant contestant but a popular singer from Sarawak in the 1960s and 1970s.
Recognised for her lasting contributions to the local beauty pageant industry, Dayak cultural heritage and the performing arts, Senorita is also the wife of the late Temenggong Datuk James Jimbun Pungga, a former three-term Member of Parliament for Kapit (1986 – 1999).
Senorita received Sarawak’s prestigious arts awards from the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah during the Anugerah Seni Sarawak 2025 ceremony at the Banquet Hall of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) last night (Nov 20).
Other award recipients were:
- Media Arts Supporter Award – Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) Sarawak
- Government and Corporate Agencies Arts Support Award – Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV)
- NGO Arts Support Award – Persatuan Grup Teater Ngancong (GTN)
- Opera Kenyalang Award (Theatre) – Ahmad Beduwi Narawi
- Sri Ritma Kenyalang Award (Music) – Kamil Salem
- Kesuma Kenyalang Award (Dance) – Hamidah Mohamad
- Sarawak Arts Nilakandi Lifetime Recipient – the late Osman Bitul (B. Osman)
When speaking to reporters, Abdul Karim praised the organisers and sponsors for their efforts in reviving the event after a two-year hiatus.
“The award is timely, and the winners deserve it as they have greatly contributed to the arts, theatre, and music in Sarawak over the years.
“Many may not realise, but these individuals have enriched our lives through their professions, and their contributions deserve recognition and commendation,” he said.
Organised by the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) Sarawak, Abdul Karim expressed hope that the department would continue honouring more individuals who have contributed to the arts.
“It is up to JKKN to nominate more individuals in the future, including those in other relevant industry categories,” he said.
This year, 93 nominations were selected, covering performing arts, music and theatre, as well as government, corporate and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Abdul Karim also launched the Sarawak Arts Awards 2025 book, a retrospective publication under the Sarawak Cultural Heritage Series 1: Sarawak Arts Awards 2025.
Also present were MTCP Deputy Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Director-General of JKKN Mohd Radzi Omar, Permanent Secretary of MTCP Datu Sherina Hussaini, and sponsors of the Anugerah Seni Sarawak 2025. — DayakDaily
