Celebrating milestones in Sarawak’s “Confluence of Cultures”
Living up to its commitment in synergizing culture and development, Sarawak, has conducted the Sarawak Cultural Symposium last June 17-18, 2009 with the theme: “45 Years of Confluence of Culture & Unity”. This year’s symposium was the fifth of its series since 1988, which is conducted every five years. The 5th Cultural Symposium was held last June 17-18, 2009 through the efforts of the Sarawak’s Ministry of Social Development and Urbanization (KPSU). The Sarawak Cultural Symposium has since expanded in scope and has begun to attract national and international attention.
The symposium brings together representatives from the various ethnic groups in Sarawak to share and discuss issues relevant to their respective cultural heritage vis-à-vis the development of Sarawak. This include the seven major ethnic groups namely the Iban, Chinese, Melanau, Malay, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu and Indian. This year, recognizing its important role in community and national development, the youth sector was included through the “Inter-Cultural Youth Forum”.
Furthermore, the Cultural Symposium has become a major platform for the people to express their sentiments, concerns and aspirations for their respective ethnic groups in the light of Sarawak’s development policies and directions. It becomes an important venue to encourage the people to put forward their own ideas and ways that they can possibly contribute towards addressing their specific issues and concerns that have significant effect to Sarawak’s development. Thus, the cultural symposium, as it has evolved through the years, has also become an effective tool that ensures a truly democratic and people-focused Sarawak government.
Prior to the main cultural symposium, each of the seven main ethnic groups organized separate seminars focusing on their respective cultural heritage. The recommendations and resolutions adopted in these seminars are further discussed and incorporated in the main cultural symposium, which then become relevant inputs in the State’s development planning.
This year’s symposium highlight the significant milestones since its inception in 1988. Sarawakians believe that these milestones have greatly contributed to the cultural integration as well as enrichment of Sarawak’s cultural heritage.
En. Ik Pahon Joyik, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation (KPSU) explained, “We have a lot to be proud of in terms of what we have accomplished as a result of the series of cultural symposia that we have organized here in Sarawak. As such, for the 5th Cultural Symposium in June 2009, we have adopted the theme “45 Years of Confluence of Culture & Unity” in conjunction with 45 Years of Sarawak’s Progress in Malaysia.
“As the theme indicates, we will be taking stock of how far we have come along in our understanding of, and in living up to the ‘confluence of cultures’ idea that was explained at length by the Chief Minister during the first symposium in 1988”, En Ik Pahon added.
The 5th Cultural Symposium had the following objectives:
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To explore the cultural commonalities and uniqueness among our diverse cultures for inter-cultural bonding;
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To engage our younger generation in the appreciation of diverse cultures for social harmony; and
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To enhance understanding, appreciation and acceptance of diverse cultures.
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Enriching Sarawak’s cultural legacy- the milestones
Culture and development are inseparable concepts–there cannot be one without the other. Social, political or economic development is ultimately determined by cultural factors. Culture is defines human growth and empowerment. If the aim of development is to achieve growth for the benefit of the people, then policy and governance have to be based on the core values and principles that are important to the people. As such, the recognition and the respect accorded to cultural diversity and the promotion of peoples’ participation, creativity and cultural freedom are major impetus towards the attainment of the economic, social and political development goals of any society.
Sarawak provides a case in point and the manner in which the State has placed great importance on the peoples’ cultural heritage in its development planning and implementation. Thus, it can serve as a good model of sustainable development.
Since Sarawak started the first Cultural Symposium, it has attained significant milestones in its journey towards enriching its cultural heritage.
These milestones were not a result of “top-down” policies imposed on the people. Rather, these were the result of the people being given the platform and the freedom to freely express what is important to them and being able to contribute their ideas, which originate from the richness of their respective cultural heritage, to the overall development strategies and policies of the State.
As such, these are the milestones that Sarawakians can be proud of because these came from the hearts and minds and the collective efforts of the people of Sarawak:
Cultural Symposium 1 (1988) – “Sarawak Cultural Heritage”
1. YAB Chief Minister’s Philosophy of “Confluence of Culture”
2. Construction of 12 ‘Dewan Suarah’ depicting various Ethnic Architectural design
3. Celebration of Gawai Dayak at State level & Mardi Gras
4. Completion of Sarawak Cultural Village (1990)
5. Jalan Budaya & Panggung Budaya
6. Publication in Sarawak Museum Journal
7. Creation of Simfoni Orkestra Negeri Sarawak (SONS)1989
Cultural Symposium II (1993) – “Cultural Change & Vision 2020”
1. Creation of Numerous Cultural Foundations eg. Dayak Cultural Foundation (DCF), Yayasan Budaya Melayu
2. Ethnic Musuems eg. Chinese Museum, Islamic Museum
3. Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance 1993
4. Publication on Cultures by the various Associations & Foundations
Cultural Symposium III (1998) – “Culture in The New Reality”
1. Sarawak Craft Council (1996)
2. Sarawak Rainforest Music Festival (1998)
3. Cultural Tourism gaining momentum
(CAN – Culture, Adventure & Nature)
4. Emergence of ethnic design & craftsmanship eg. Pua, batik and beads works.
5. Strengthening Open House Celebration Practices eg. Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Gawai
6. Borneo Cultural Festival, Sibu
7. Sarawak Borneo Ethnic Music Conference
8. Sarawak Oral Traditions Project.
Cultural Symposium IV (2003) – “Capital Resilience in facing Challenges of Globalization”
1. National Gawai Open House
2. Inter Cultural Forum
3. Pesta Kaul
4. Sarawak Traditional Games Carnival
5. Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (Traditional Knowledge on herbs etc.)
6. Sarawak Convention Centre
7. Islamic Information Centre
8. Sarawak Arts Council
9. Pesta Birumuh
10. Sape Festival
11. Documentation of Ethnic Dance Workshop
