By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Dec 11: The Sarawak identity must be instilled in everyday life and thought and not treated as a mere political slogan for propaganda, says Sarawak Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting.
He said such an inherited asset is invaluable and should be recognised as the original aspiration and belief of all anak Sarawak (people of Sarawak).
“The characteristics of the Sarawak identity are like the rivers in Sarawak. They confluent and become bigger, then flow into the South China Sea.
“Hospitality, generosity, and tolerance with mutual respect are the elemental compositions of Sarawak tradition.
“Its cultural identity can be a model of the multi-racial, multi-lingual, and multi-religious society of our whole nation,” he said when launching the commemorative book and opening ceremony of the literature forum held at Riverine Diamond here today.
Ting, who is also Piasau assemblyman, said the Sarawak government has recently stepped up efforts to claim its rights from the federal government to improve its economy and enable more physical development.
At the same time, he said, the immaterial aspect of Sarawakians’ spiritual life must also be paid attention to to strengthen the Sarawakians’ identity, consolidating the society with goodwill, consistency, and ethnic harmony.
“I wish to take the occasion to express one point: I sincerely hope that through our Sarawak writers, intellectuals, and scholars, we should try to explore deeper into the spiritual and cultural heritage of our beloved motherland.
“It is a need, and perhaps a mission to accomplish, to advocate, promote and carry forward the original aspiration of harmonious coexistence,” he added. — DayakDaily
