KUCHING: After making waves in Miri and Kuching, Borderland Music Festival (BDMF) may next explore indoor raves and city-based music events.
Kuching South Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng voiced his full support for the event, calling it a bold step by Sarawak’s younger generation to build the city’s electronic dance music (EDM) and creative scene.
He said the initiative stood out for its unique blend of modern music and Sarawak’s indigenous heritage, preserving cultural roots while reaching new and younger audiences.
“We’ve also discussed the possibility of more EDM-related events in the city, such as Borderland Indoor Raves and smaller-scale music festivals within the city centre.
“These kinds of events don’t just enrich the cultural scene, they bring energy to the city and benefit our local businesses by attracting both domestic and international tourists.
“As mayor, I strongly encourage these kinds of creative efforts that help make Kuching a more vibrant, inclusive, and forward-looking city for all,” he told Sarawak Tribune on Tuesday (Aug 5).
First held at Coco Cabana, Miri in 2023 and later at the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) in 2024, the festival has fast become a key player in East Malaysia’s growing electronic dance music (EDM) and creative scene.
It is set to return to SCV again this September with a two-day lineup of local and international acts.
Behind the decks and dreams is DJ Tiger Ming, one of the founders of BDMF, who has been instrumental in shaping the festival from scratch.
From a modest 3,000-strong crowd in Miri in 2023 to over 12,000 attendees at SCV in 2024, the festival has grown rapidly in just two years, but not without cost.
After the 2024 edition concluded, he shared that the team started with no prior experience, minimal funding and had to rely entirely on their own savings and manpower to keep things going.
Despite the rising numbers and attention, none of the founding team members had received any personal payment, instead prioritising the growth of the local EDM community.
The behind-the-scenes workload was immense, with organisers juggling logistics, funding gaps and technical problems, often sacrificing rest and even the chance to enjoy the event they built.
“When we started this, we had no experience, no money, no big funding… yet here we are, two years in a row, making miracles happen,” he wrote in an Instagram post after the event.
For Tiger Ming, the festival is also deeply personal.
As a DJ of 13 years, he said BDMF was born out of the struggle many local talents face in breaking into big stages.
That experience became the foundation of Borderland’s mission — to give those same artists the platform he never had.
In July, the organisers paid a courtesy call to Deputy Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu.
The meeting, said Tiger Ming, was a step forward in continuing to build Sarawak’s EDM scene with institutional support.
“We are grateful for the chance to build this Borneo dream of an EDM rave, and for the support in growing the local scene.
“Borderland is more than just a music festival. It’s a platform to give talented local DJs a stage to shine.
“As a DJ myself for 13 years, I know how hard it is to make it to big stages, and I’m here to make that change,” he said.
