KUCHING: Traditional knowledge passed down through generations carries the same scientific weight as knowledge documented in English.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said indigenous communities had long practised forms of scientific observation, citing traditional Bidayuh farming methods that relied on reading star positions to determine planting seasons.
He spoke at the closing ceremony of the Educational Leadership in Heritage and Science for Economic Resilience Programme at the Sarawak Science Centre here today (Aug 9).
“That is knowledge to us, but in the past we never really wrote our findings down,” he said, adding that the only difference between such traditional practices and formal science was that the latter had been documented in English.
Sagah said heritage and innovation should be nurtured together rather than viewed as separate pursuits, with heritage providing communities with their identity and innovation providing their competitiveness.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to developing human capital under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, saying his ministry continued to invest in education, STEM, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), digital education and talent development.
Sagah said the rise of artificial intelligence, automation, biotechnology and the green economy meant education could no longer focus solely on academic knowledge, calling for individuals equipped with critical thinking, problem-solving and lifelong learning skills.
He also credited community leaders and village chiefs (KMKK) and local councillors as trusted figures who help translate government policies into action at the grassroots level.
The programme was organised by the Sarawak Museum Department in collaboration with Yayasan Sarawak, Sarawak Skills, the Sarawak Science Centre, the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and PETRONAS.
Also present were Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) president Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik and Sarawak Museum Department director Anielia Siam.
