MIRI: The rich oral traditions of the Iban community have the potential to project Sarawak’s identity onto the global stage if developed through contemporary and strategic creative approaches.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Sebastian Ting said indigenous narratives should thus no longer be viewed as static cultural relics but as dynamic intellectual property capable of driving the state’s creative economy.
He made these remarks at the closing of the comic installation exhibition ‘Apai Alui Becomes A Shaman’.
The exhibition, organised by Curtin University Malaysia and held at the MBM Lutong Community Library, translated the Iban folktale of Apai Alui into a contemporary comic format, making traditional storytelling more accessible to younger audiences.
“Iban folklore carries universal values, philosophy and worldview,” Ting said.
“When these stories are interpreted professionally and innovatively, they not only strengthen Sarawak’s cultural identity but also hold real potential for national and international markets.”
Ting said the project demonstrated how cultural heritage could be repositioned as a competitive creative product aligned with Sarawak’s push to expand its creative or Orange Economy as a new growth driver.
The exhibition showcased the practice based research of Britto Augustus, a Master of Media, Culture and Creative Arts candidate, whose work reimagines oral traditions through visual storytelling grounded in academic research.
Ting said bringing academic research beyond university walls and into community spaces helped bridge the gap between scholars and the public.
“This is where culture becomes alive and relevant,” he said.
“It encourages dialogue, ownership and a deeper appreciation of heritage in a form that resonates with contemporary society.”
Head of the Media and Communication Department at the university, Terry Justin, said the exhibition illustrated the strong potential of local creative works to reach wider audiences when tradition and modern artistic approaches are combined.
He also acknowledged Ting’s continued support for Sarawak’s creative industries and thanked Majlis Bandaraya Miri for providing a strategic public venue for the exhibition.
