By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, March 20: Sarawak is set to host the second edition of the Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS) from June 18 to 20 at Hikmah Exchange and Event Centre in Kuching, reinforcing its commitment to environmental conservation and youth empowerment.
With the theme “Living Landscapes: Charting a Sustainable Future,” the summit will gather young leaders from across ASEAN and beyond to discuss sustainability and climate action.
Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the summit will feature a series of workshops and talks by global speakers who specialise in environmental conservation and sustainability solutions.
“In total, over 15 speakers from 12 countries (Australia, Bolivia, Brunei, Canada, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Panama, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and The Philippines) will be joining us,” he said during the launch of RAYS 2025 at Borneo Cultures Museum here today.
Among the notable speakers are climate activists Zoya Miari, Prachi Shevgaonkar, and Mitzi Jonelle Tan, Indigenous rights advocate Larissa Crawford, Indigenous communities’ advocate Joshua Belayan, and conservation biologist Dr Ahmad Zafir Bin Abdul Wahab.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Abdul Karim, who is also Sarawak Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, noted that the event has already secured 300 confirmed attendees from ASEAN nations, with expectations of attracting between 600 to 1,000 participants in total.
Local university students, young leaders, and youth organisations such as Sarawak United National Youth Organisation (SABERKAS) and the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) are also encouraged to participate.
One of the summit’s key moments will be the RAYS 2025 Torch Ceremony, a symbolic event that represents unity, resilience, and hope for a sustainable future.
RAYS 2025 offers special ticketing tiers: RM300 for ASEAN delegates, RM250 for returning alumni, RM230 per person for groups of five or more, and RM500 for international (outside ASEAN) attendees. All tickets include access to the first day of the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2025.
The summit is organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP Sarawak) and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED Sarawak), and produced by Memories and Magnifico. It is supported by Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), and UN Tourism, further strengthening its global outreach and impact.
For more information and registration details, visit www.rainforestyouthsummit.com.
Also present during the launch were Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (Creative Industry and Performing Arts) Dato Snowdan Lawan; Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (Youth and Sports) Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu; STB chairman Dato Dennis Ngau; and STB chief executive officer Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor. – DayakDaily
