KUCHING: The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is a powerful celebration of Sarawak’s culture, unity, and global appeal, reflecting its journey from humble beginnings to an international event.
Speaking on the first day of the festival in Santubong, Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu said this year’s RWMF coincided with the closing of the Rainforest Youth Summit, an initiative aimed at involving young people in cultural and environmental advocacy.
“For me, RWMF is a continuation. Today is the last day of the Youth Summit and we brought our delegates here to experience it.
“We created such a big event over the years and I believe there is still room for improvement,” he said.
He highlighted the strong turnout, noting that more than 10,000 people attended this year, coming not only from Sarawak but from across Malaysia.
“To me, RWMF is about you and me enjoying a good weekend together”
“The most important thing is for us to enjoy ourselves and to celebrate what we have in Sarawak — our diversity and unity,” he said.
Rentap, who was involved in the early days of the festival nearly three decades ago, recalled its modest start.
“When we started 25 to 28 years ago, only a few people came. Today, more than a thousand people turned up. We have grown from small to big,” he said.
He stressed the importance of involving youth and hoped the festival would remain a platform where younger generations could connect, learn and enjoy music in a meaningful way.
Commenting on the rising ticket prices, which have become a concern for some local RWMF, Rentap acknowledged that affordability should remain a consideration.
“Back then, tickets were priced at RM20 to RM30. Now it is about RM300. If the pricing is still acceptable to everyone, we can proceed, but the key is to ensure that people continue to feel welcomed and included,” he said.
As performances filled the evening air with music from around the world, Rentap ended his remarks with a hopeful note.
“Let us enjoy. Let us celebrate. Because what we have in Sarawak — our unity and diversity — is the most important thing.”
