By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Aug 21: From open-air Wayang Pacak screenings that once brought communities together to animation and films reaching audiences beyond Sarawak, the State is looking to turn nostalgia into a new platform for its creative industry.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the revival of Wayang Pacak, which is a traditional Malaysian term for an open-air, mobile film screening, through the Borneo Animation and Games Festival (BAGFest) 2026 showed how community spirit, creative content, technology, and sustainability could come together in one experience.
“For many Sarawakians, Wayang Pacak brings back memories of community gatherings, open-air screenings, and simple moments in yesteryears where people came together to enjoy films in public spaces.
“This is a good example of how we can combine community spirit, creative content, technology, and sustainability in one experience,” he said in his speech, read by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas at the BAGFest 2026 opening ceremony at Pullman Hotel here today.
He said Cinewav’s app-based audio technology allowed public screenings to reach beyond conventional cinemas, bringing films to communities, towns, and areas with limited access to cinemas.
Abang Johari said the initiative could also bring Malaysian cinema closer to the public through local content, including collaborations such as MAFF with GSC and family-friendly productions such as Didi & Friends by Warnakala.
He said creative industry development should not be confined to studios, conferences or exhibition halls, but should also be experienced by the wider public.
“When we activate public spaces, we activate the local night economy. We create reasons for communities to gather. We support local vendors. We create visibility for local content. Most importantly, we bring creative experiences closer to the people,” he said.
He said Wayang Pacak could continue beyond BAGFest through future activations such as the Kuching Light Festival with the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU), as well as a wider Wayang Pacak tour across Sarawak.
This could include towns such as Kapit through the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) Digital Innovation Hub network, he added.
Abang Johari said Sarawak’s ambition was not merely to host creative events but to build a sustainable industry where creators could develop ideas, studios could collaborate, investors could discover talent, and communities could participate in the digital creative economy.
He said the State must strengthen the creative industry value chain, from talent development and production to commercialisation, intellectual property, marketing, and global distribution.
He also urged young creators to think beyond one-off projects, noting that a character could become a brand, a short animation could grow into a series, and a game could become a franchise.
“To our young talents here today, I encourage you to take full advantage of BAGFest. Meet the industry players. Show your portfolios. Attend the talks and workshops. Ask questions. Build connections,” he said.
Abang Johari also invited industry players and investors to explore opportunities in Sarawak, saying the State had talent, stories, a supportive ecosystem, and strong government commitment.
He said Sarawak’s future creative economy would be shaped by its ability to combine culture with technology, creativity with business, and local identity with global relevance.
“BAGFest is therefore a timely and strategic platform. It supports our PCDS 2030 goals, strengthens Sarawak’s creative industry direction and contributes towards our aspiration to become the next digital creative hub in the region,” he said. — DayakDaily
