KUCHING: The Sarawak Dayak Cultural Association (SDCA) is planning initiatives to expand youth participation and preserving cultural heritage through strong youth engagement and various cultural activities.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas met with the SDCA for a high-impact strategic meeting at Wisma Bapa Malaysia today.
The aim of the meeting was to refine SDCA’s direction and strengthen its implementation of initiatives, particularly in expanding youth participation and preserving cultural heritage.
According to SDCA’s president, Bridgette Astra Donald, SDCA is not just preserving culture, but also building a future generation of confident, skilled and market-ready Dayak talents.
“Through structured programmes and strong strategic partnerships, we are creating real pathways for our youth to succeed not only in cultural platforms, but also in the professional and creative industries,” she said.
“This is about empowering our people, strengthening our identity, and positioning Sarawak’s cultural heritage on the global stage.”
Among the key focus areas discussed was the need to streamline and clearly define the objectives of the association’s activities to ensure they are more structured, strategic and easily understood by the public.
Enhancements in programme delivery were also emphasised to ensure that every initiative achieves maximum impact.
In addition, SDCA said the meeting also placed strong emphasis on youth engagement in social and cultural activities.
It said this initiative is seen as a vital platform to nurture appreciation for traditional customs while developing leadership skills among the younger generation.
“SDCA presented a long-term talent development vision for competition participants, particularly titleholders, including pathways to career opportunities in the creative industry such as acting, modelling, professional makeup artistry, and brand ambassadorship.
“Discussions further explored potential strategic collaborations with industry partners, including sponsorship opportunities and product promotion through competition platforms, thereby enhancing the commercial value and marketability of SDCA programmes,” it added.
The meeting underscored the importance of strategic partnerships with tourism and cultural agencies, as well as industry stakeholders, to strengthen SDCA’s position as a leading platform for talent development and the preservation of Dayak cultural heritage in Sarawak.
The Deputy Premier expressed his hope that SDCA will continue to create more opportunities for youth to develop their talents, ultimately nurturing a generation with strong potential across arts, culture and the creative industries.
He also stressed that continuous efforts to strengthen talent development platforms are essential to ensure that cultural heritage remains relevant and can be promoted to a higher level, including on the international stage.
At the same time, he encouraged closer collaboration between associations, government agencies, and industry players to expand career opportunities and enhance participants’ employability.
The planning for the grand finals of the Kumang and Keling competitions, scheduled to take place in Kuching in July 2026, was also discussed.
The event will feature divisional champions competing in the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu categories.
SDCA’s key upcoming programmes will begin with the Kumang and Keling Judges Enhancement and Standardisation Workshop at Serapi Hotel, Kuching on April 18.
This will be followed by ‘Pekit Kumang’ and ‘Pekit Keling’ to be held in Bintulu on May 8.
On May 23, ‘Pekit Kumang’ and ‘Pekit Keling; will be jointly organised with Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) at Dewan Suarah, Sri Aman.
The grand finale of the Kumang and Keling competitions on July 3 will be held in conjunction with the Samarahan Food and Cultural Festival in collaboration with Majlis Perbandaran Kota Samarahan (MPKS).
