MULU: Serumpun Sarawak, a cultural and culinary initiative, has returned to its birthplace deep within the UNESCO World Heritage rainforest of Mulu.
Serumpun Sarawak: Mulu Edition, hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts and the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) was a homecoming of sorts that paid tribute to the land and communities that inspired its story.
The event carried the evocative theme “We Are Nature, Nature Is Us — Everything is Everything”, set against the lush backdrop of Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa.
According to STB chief executive officer Sharzede Salleh Askor, Serumpun Sarawak’s return to Mulu symbolises bringing global attention back to Sarawak’s living heritage, celebrating the state as a source of wisdom where culture, cuisine and conservation are intertwined.
“Through this initiative, we celebrate Sarawak not only as a destination of natural wonders but as a source of wisdom, where culture, cuisine, and conservation are inseparable. Sustainability begins with respect: for people, for place, and for purpose,” she said.
The highlight of the evening was a seven-course gastronomic journey curated by chef James Won in collaboration with Sarawak’s Indigenous food custodians.
Each dish became a dialogue between modern culinary innovation and ancestral memory.
Meanwhile, the Serumpun Salon: Conversations in the Rainforest featured an engaging panel discussion on how Sarawak’s Indigenous wisdom aligns with modern sustainability frameworks such as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance).
Panellists, including Joanne Flinn, founder of the ESG Institute, highlighted how community-based practices, from traditional agriculture to food preservation, can serve as models for responsible and regenerative tourism.
The showcase also featured Sarawak’s most inspiring artisans and social enterprises, including The Tuyang Initiative, CHASS represented by Datin Dona Drury Wee and Chef Laura Sim Bara, Earthlings Coffee, Dayak Lore, Penang Basket, Awing, Bera Adam Ba’kelalan, and Savo; all exemplifying Sarawak’s creativity and cultural economy.
A defining moment of the evening came with the performance of Ilun Kuai, the official theme song of Serumpun Sarawak, performed by Adrian Jo Milang and co-created with Zee Avi, Raja Farouk, and The Atlas Collective.
The song, steeped in rhythm and ancestral resonance, captured Sarawak’s essence — a harmony of land, people, and spirit.
