By Amanda L
KUCHING, Dec 29: Event organisers in Sarawak cannot assume they are free to feature any form of entertainment simply because their events did not receive government funding, said Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
“All public entertainment events remain subject to laws, regulations, and cultural guidelines, regardless of sponsorship or financial backing.
“Just because the government does not support an event does not mean organisers are free to do whatever they want. The government still has authority because laws exist,” he said.
He said this when speaking to reporters after the closing ceremony of the Festival Jabat Sejagat 2025 at Sarawak Sports Village (SSV) here on Sunday (Dec 28), in response to public backlash over a recent entertainment event in Miri that went viral on social media and drew objections from several non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
He clarified that the Sarawak government does not oppose entertainment programmes, including New Year’s Eve countdown celebrations. Still, he warned that organisers must ensure content respects local cultural norms and public sensitivities.
The controversy in Miri, he said, highlighted that organisers remain accountable even when events are privately funded.
According to Abdul Karim, the Miri City Council has since called the organisers for discussions, and elements of the programme deemed excessive are understood to have been withdrawn.
The minister also urged local authorities, police, and relevant agencies to scrutinise event content carefully before permits are approved, cautioning that lapses could disrupt public harmony.
“Entertainment must not come at the expense of social order, cultural respect, and Sarawak’s multi-racial and multi-religious identity,” he said.
On Dec 28, a coalition of NGOs in Miri voiced strong objections to a proposed ‘foam party’ in conjunction with the 2026 New Year celebration, which is planned to be held in the Pujut area. — DayakDaily
