UPM Bintulu Sarawak Campus’ efforts in research to document Sarawak’s ethnic cultural heritage through Pehin Sri Adenan Satem Research Chair (better known as the Tok Nan Chair) is an effort that the Sarawak Government greatly appreciates.
Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg assured that the state government will back the Tok Nan Chair.
“Definitely, I can assure you that the state government will support you in your endeavours to know more of our ethnic groups,” he was quoted as saying so at 3rd International Conference On Science, Social Sciences And Humanities 2023 (ICOSSH 2023) on 26 September 2023 in Bintulu.
This Research Chair was founded to commemorate Tok Nan for his sacrifice and dedication in the fight for ethnic equality and the recognition of ethnic minority rights in Sarawak. It was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between UPMKB and the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, Sarawak (MTCP), for a duration of three years (2021 to 2024).
The establishment of the Tok Nan Research Chair led to it introducing a series of initiatives including providing scholarships to Sarawakian students to enable them to continue their education to from Diploma level to Doctorate (PhD).
Up to September 2023, eight (8) students have accepted the scholarship covering the period 2022-2023.
Additionally, as part of its ongoing endeavour to establish the UPM Sarawak Campus as a prominent hub for ethnic research.
It is now evident that the cooperation between the Ministry and UPM has brought success to both parties.
Sarawak Government serious in its effort to gather data on different ethnic minority groups in Sarawak.
Among its other achievements is the gathering of data on the total ethnic breakdown in Sarawak.
In Article 161A of the Federal Constitution on the indigenous races of Sarawak, which was amended on 15 February 2022, only 27 ethnic groups were officially recognized.
However, the researchers at the Chair were able to prove that there are indeed 34 ethnic groups in the state and it is very likely that the number will increase, especially considering that there are ethnic groups who do not have their own identity.
This is a proud achievement for the Chair and was made possible through a joint effort between its researchers, MTCP, and the local community who participated in the research.
This finding or achievement is also a product of strong collaboration between the local universities, such as UNIMAS in Sarawak, UMS in Sabah, Universiti Malaya, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Peninsular Malaysia.
Therefore, the research experts hail not only from UPM but also from other universities who have come together to form a strategic partnership in their respective areas of expertise.
This highlights the uniqueness of the Pehin Sri Adenan Satem Research Chair.
Indeed, Sarawak has many unexplored natural resources.
The collaboration between the local community and researchers would, therefore, enable the latter to gain greater knowledge of the resources the former has been utilizing to treat diseases.
This is a well-deserved recognition, and via the Tok Nan Chair, should establish a research hub to study local herbs used by different ethnic groups in Sarawak.
Pehin Sri Adenan Satem Chair
The objectives of establishing the Pehin Sri Adenan Satem Chair are as follows:
- Leading research in the field of culture, arts and ethnic heritage of Sarawak.
- Provide an ethnic database to collect and record research results as a reference for state government policy planning.
- Elevating the culture of the State of Sarawak through scholarly writing and organizing international conferences.
- Improving the socio-economic and quality of life of the local community by transferring knowledge from expert groups to the local community.
- Develop Sarawak’s human capital by providing scholarships for ethnic studies and special allocations for cultural development activities and
- Creating a reference center related to Pehin Sri Adenan Satem through the development of a gallery and the publication of Tok Nan Books.
Pehin Sri Adenan Satem Chair was launched by YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Premier of Sarawak on 27 October 2021 in Kuching in conjunction with the opening of the 2021 International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (ICOSH 2021).
The Chair of Pehin Sri Adenan Satem has identified four (4) agencies that will be strategic partners and stakeholders for this chair. Research results and materials documented through various media will be shared with the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts, Sarawak Museum Department, Sarawak Library and Sarawak Customs Council in addition to UPM Bintulu Sarawak Campus.
