By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 13: Valuable indigenous knowledge, including traditional songs, poems and stories held by community elders, risks being lost if not documented before younger generations lose touch with their cultural roots.
Tanjong Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang Leong Ming said the Sarawak State Library should work closely with indigenous communities, cultural groups, universities and researchers to record and preserve the State’s diverse languages, traditions and oral histories.
Debating the Sarawak State Library (Amendment) Bill, 2026, at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUNS) sitting today, he said the proposed introduction of memorial archives offered an opportunity to strengthen efforts to safeguard Sarawak’s cultural heritage.
He cited communities such as the Kelabit, Penan, Kenyah and Kayan, whose languages and traditions risk fading as younger generations become less familiar with them.
“A language is more than just words. It carries the history, wisdom and identity of a community. When a language disappears, we lose more than just a way of speaking. We lose a part of our heritage,” he said.
Pang also proposed that the Sarawak government explore an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Indigenous Language and Oral Heritage Digital Archive to build on Pustaka Negeri Sarawak’s existing Oral History Division and Sarawakiana digital collections.
He said the initiative could involve recording indigenous languages, traditional songs, poems and stories, with AI technology potentially used to develop learning programmes to help younger generations learn their mother tongues.
Using the Kelabit community as an example, he said recordings of fluent speakers could help children learn pronunciation, practise conversations and understand traditional expressions.
However, he stressed that such programmes must be developed with the communities concerned to ensure their heritage was recorded accurately and with their consent.
“Preserving a language in an archive may prevent it from being forgotten. But teaching the next generation to speak that language is what will keep it alive,” he said.
Pang said memorial archives should preserve not only records of prominent figures and major historical events, but also the contributions of ordinary Sarawakians, local pioneers and the various ethnic communities that had shaped Sarawak.
He noted that historical materials such as old photographs, handwritten documents, personal collections and oral traditions were vulnerable to loss or damage if not properly preserved.
“The history of Sarawak is not merely the history of our leaders. It is also the history of our people,” he said.
Pang supported the Bill, which seeks to strengthen the governance and administration of the State Library and expand its role in preserving Sarawak’s historical heritage.
He said clearer responsibilities for the Minister, the library’s Board and the State government could improve management and decision-making, while the institution should evolve beyond book lending to become a centre for research, digital learning and cultural preservation.
He also called for better library facilities in Bintulu, proposing improved study areas, digital learning resources and reading programmes to meet growing demand as the town’s population and industries expand.
He said local communities, schools and cultural groups should be involved in documenting Bintulu’s history, from its early settlements and trading activities to its development as an industrial centre.
On the Bill’s financial implications, Pang called for phased implementation and prudent spending, noting that effective preservation required trained personnel, proper storage facilities and modern technology.
He said Sarawak’s pursuit of economic and technological progress must go hand in hand with preserving its cultural identity, in line with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s message of “One Sarawak, One Future”.
“Let us use the technology of tomorrow to preserve the heritage of yesterday, so that our future generations will always remember their roots and identity,” he said. — DayakDaily
