By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, Sept 24: Sarawak is seeking to nurture more homegrown writing talent, strengthen its reading culture and preserve its literary heritage through platforms that can build a stronger literary ecosystem capable of carrying the State’s stories to the world.
In a speech read by Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah on his behalf, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said literature and reading played an important role in shaping a society capable of thinking critically, understanding technology and retaining its values and identity.
“Sarawak’s development is not only about physical infrastructure. We also need intellectual development through knowledge, reading and the production of literary works,” he said when delivering the speech at the opening of the Sarawak Literature Festival 2026 held in Miri Indoor Stadium today, as reported by TVS.
Abang Johari said Sarawak must provide more opportunities for local writers to tell authentic stories while documenting and bringing its indigenous literary heritage to the international stage.
“If we do not write our own stories, others may write them on our behalf,” he said.
He said Miri’s selection as the festival venue was significant given its diverse communities and cultures, which could provide rich inspiration for literary works.
Abang Johari said Miri’s aspiration to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of literature would require a strong ecosystem involving writers, publishers, libraries, educational institutions, cultural organisations and the community.
“International recognition is not merely a title. More importantly, we need to build an ecosystem that gives meaning to this aspiration. A city of literature needs writers and readers,” he said.
He added that literature also held economic potential through publishing, translation, audiovisual adaptations, animation, digital games, education and tourism. — DayakDaily
