BINTULU: Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, is calling for stronger efforts to promote Sarawak’s indigenous heritage, citing persistent misconceptions among foreign visitors about native communities.
According to Tiong, some foreign tourists continue to wrongly believe that indigenous people in Sarawak “still live in the jungle”, revealing a lack of understanding of the state’s rich and diverse cultural identity.
He made the remarks in his official Facebook post yesterday, following early morning Gawai visits to two Iban longhouses, Rumah Raymond Plen and Rumah Saging, where he was warmly welcomed with traditional hospitality, including tuak (rice wine) and cultural performances.
“Even at the crack of dawn, the welcome was as warm as ever,” Tiong wrote.
“And of course, we couldn’t start the day without a glass of tuak to ‘warm up the voice’,” he added with humour.
He expressed admiration for Rumah Raymond Plen, which has preserved much of its traditional architecture.
“Longhouses like this are becoming increasingly rare in Bintulu, so finding one so well preserved is truly something special,” he said.
Tiong said that visits to such longhouses allow guests to experience not only traditional cuisine such as ‘ayam pansoh’, but also rare cultural practices like the sacred Gawai Antu ceremony, held only once every few years to honour ancestors.
“These traditions are deeply meaningful. Some are so rare that even many locals have never seen them,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of promoting these practices and correcting global misconceptions, and has directed his Ministry to intensify cultural outreach efforts.
“So, more people, especially from around the world, can truly appreciate what makes Sarawak’s culture so unique,” he added.
Tiong also revealed that preliminary discussions are underway with longhouse communities to explore the development of homestay programmes that would give tourists the chance to experience indigenous life firsthand.
“We’ll be exploring this idea further to see how best we can move it forward in a way that respects tradition while embracing modern tourism, developing both culture and economy together, side by side,” he said.
