LIMBANG: Cultural heritage must be preserved alongside modern development to ensure the identity and history of a community are safeguarded and passed down to future generations.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said culture is not merely an inheritance from ancestors, but also served as the foundation of unity, identity and pride of a community that must continue to be preserved despite rapid global development.
“However, in today’s context, the Makan Tahun Festival has evolved into something more than that. It has become a symbol of unity, identity and pride of the Kedayan community, continuing to be passed down from previous generations.
“In an increasingly modern and rapidly changing world, efforts to preserve cultural heritage have become even more important. Progress should not cause us to forget our own cultural roots and history,” he said in his speech read by Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat during the opening of the Limbang Kedayan Makan Tahun Festival 2026 yesterday.
According to Abang Johari, the participation of various segments of society, including the younger generation, in the Makan Tahun Festival proved that Kedayan culture remained vibrant and continued to hold a special place within Sarawak’s multicultural society.
He added that traditions such as the Makan Tahun Festival should continue to be strengthened as they not only serve as a platform to celebrate culture, but also have the potential to be developed into community-based tourism products capable of generating economic opportunities through small-scale enterprises and traditional food businesses.
At the same time, he stressed that the Sarawak government would continue to ensure every ethnic community was given space and support to preserve its respective cultural identity so that no community was left behind in the state’s development journey.
He said the physical, economic and social development implemented by the government would always progress in tandem with efforts to preserve the people’s heritage, ensuring that the benefits of development could be enjoyed by all segments of society.
On Limbang’s development, Abang Johari emphasised that the division had never been neglected despite its unique geographical position.
Instead, it continued to receive special attention through various strategic projects aimed at improving connectivity, basic infrastructure and economic opportunities.
Among the projects currently being implemented are the construction of the Second Limbang River Bridge and the Limbang Integrated Administrative Centre (IAC), which are expected to strengthen government service delivery systems and further spur development in the division.
