MUKAH: The traditional Melanau sport of Bidar Lukut continues to thrive, strengthened through the 2025 Bidar Lukut Traditional Innovation Workshop held here over the weekend.
Tellian assemblyman Royston Valentine said the programme was vital in promoting and commercialising Melanau traditional sports while ensuring their long-term preservation.
“Besides preserving cultural heritage, this workshop also acts as a platform for documentation and research towards improving the sport.
“It also opens up opportunities for collaboration between higher learning institutions and the local community,” he said when officiating at the programme at Dewan Sri Pekala, Kampung Kuala Lama Mukah on Saturday (Aug 23).
Royston noted that Bidar Lukut, once regarded as a seasonal pastime during the monsoon, has gained steady popularity among water sports enthusiasts.
“Since its introduction at the Mukah Kaul Festival in 2017, the race has attracted strong interest and shows potential to be developed at the international level,” he added.
The two-day workshop (Aug 23–24), jointly organised by the Melanau Research Centre of UiTM Sarawak Mukah Campus, Persatuan Melanau Mukah, and the Youth Unit of Saberkas Kampung Petanak (YUSAPET), gathered enthusiasts across all age groups.
Participants exchanged knowledge and hands-on experience in building and testing Bidar Lukut boats, while also contributing to documentation and innovation in the traditional sport.
The programme also received support through the Arts Incentive from the Department of National Culture and Arts (JKKN).
With continued backing from various stakeholders, Bidar Lukut is expected to remain a living cultural symbol of the Melanau people, inspire younger generations, and enhance Mukah’s appeal as a tourism destination.
