KUCHING: A renewed commitment to strengthen collaboration between the media and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Sarawak was made today during a courtesy visit by DBP Sarawak Director, Dr Azizul Ismail, to Suara Sarawak and Sarawak Tribune Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Datuk Dr Jeniri Amir.
Jeniri and Suara Sarawak Executive Editor, Rohana Wahed, warmly welcomed them upon arrival at the Suara Sarawak and Sarawak Tribune office, reaffirming the close working relationship between DBP and the local media.
He noted that the partnership has grown stronger since his appointment to DBP’s Board of Governors, and the importance of expanding DBP’s presence in East Malaysian media to foster public appreciation for the national language and literature.
“We believe DBP’s efforts must reach beyond the peninsula.
“Here in Sarawak, we’ve dedicated space for DBP content, book reviews and literary contributions.
“It’s vital for the public to understand DBP’s role, not just through policy, but through stories that cultivate love for language and literature,” said Jeniri.
He also encouraged more proactive communication from DBP Kuala Lumpur to ensure activities in the peninsula are equally shared with the media in Sarawak and Sabah.
Highlighting his experience reforming newsroom workflows, Jeniri shared how Suara Sarawak improved productivity by shifting from outdated work routines to a more modern, efficient editorial culture.
“When I first came in, production wrapped up at 3.00 am, and now we can close as early as 8.00 pm.
“With a proper work ethic and digital strategy, we’ve grown our Facebook followers to over 300,000 in just five years,” he said, adding that Suara Sarawak now operates across three platforms: print, e-paper and digital portal, with a combined growing readership.
In response, Azizul welcomed the strong support from the media and expressed DBP’s aim to become more accessible, inclusive and appealing, particularly to younger audiences.
“We want DBP to shed the perception of being too academic or traditional.
“It’s time to rebrand ourselves with more interactive, inclusive activities and programmes that attract people from all ethnicities and age groups,” he said.
He cited successful initiatives such as multi-ethnic poetry and music competitions, and community programmes previously held in Port Dickson and with various ethnic groups in Sarawak.
Azizul also stressed the importance of preserving Sarawak’s ethnic languages, citing ongoing efforts to document and promote indigenous dialects such as Remun, Kejaman, Bidayuh and Melanau through storytelling and manuscript collections.
“Preserving our linguistic heritage is a national priority.
“At the same time, we must evolve in how we promote it through engaging and relevant events,” Azizul said.
He also emphasised the need for strong media support, noting that the media plays a critical role in shaping public perception.
“Media coverage can elevate or diminish the impact of an institution.
“That’s why working with press partners like Suara Sarawak and Sarawak Tribune is crucial in ensuring DBP’s efforts are seen, heard and felt across all communities,” he added.
The visit concluded with a mutual pledge to further strategic cooperation in language promotion, cultural outreach and creative content development, ensuring DBP’s message resonates throughout Sarawak and beyond.
