Museum Department to showcase Sarawak's rich history and cultural heritage at next month's ICOMOS in France

KUCHING, Sept 21 2026: The Sarawak Museums Department will showcase the state's rich history and cultural heritage to the international stage through participation in the 22nd General Assembly and Scientific Symposium of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in France next month.

Caption: Tourism Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah says that the Museum Department's participation in the world-class gathering is an important platform to promote Sarawak's rich cultural heritage to the international community.

Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the gathering, which takes place from October 17 to 24, brings together more than 1,500 heritage experts and policymakers from 110 countries.

According to him, the department's participation in the world-class gathering is an important platform to promote Sarawak's rich cultural heritage to the international community.

"This world-class gathering, which brings together more than 1,500 heritage experts and policymakers from 110 countries, is the best platform to promote Malaysia's cultural heritage," he said at the Sarawak Museum Department's 2026 Appreciation Night last night.

He added that the department will also take the opportunity to introduce the uniqueness of Sarawak's heritage through four special programs organised in conjunction with the conference.

He said the programmes in question are the Night at the Museum: Sarawak Authentic Gastronomy, Sarawak Museum Talk, Sarawak Museum Heritage Walk as well as Tour Guide services at heritage sites.

"This initiative will highlight the uniqueness of local culinary, historical, and cultural arts to international visitors," he said.

In a related development, Karim said the department is also strengthening efforts to preserve and promote the state's heritage through various education, promotion and community engagement programmes.

Among them is the Fort Touring Programme: Exploring Heritage and History which provides historical exposure to the younger generation and local communities around Fort Alice in Sri Aman, Fort Lily in Betong, Fort Brooke in Julau and Fort Emma in Kanowit.

The programme will start at Kubu Lily, Betong in conjunction with the Sarawakku Sayang event from 25 to 27 September.

Sarawak registers 439,968 visitor arrivals last month, compared to 413,018 in August last year

KUCHING, Sept 21 2026:  Visitor arrivals to Sarawak rose by 6.53 per cent to 439,968 in August 2026, up from 413,018 during the same period last year, signaling a recovery following the decline recorded in July.

Caption: Tourism Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah says visitor arrivals increased by 6.53 per cent in August this year compared to same period of last year

Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that the increase was driven by various programmes organised throughout the period.

He noted that foreign visitor arrivals also increased to 275,800 in August this year, compared to 244,903 in the same month of 2025.

“For August 2026, the total was 439,968 visitors. When compared to the same period in August 2025, which saw 413,018 arrivals, there is an increase of 6.53 per cent,” he said when met by reporters after the Sarawak Museum Department Appreciation Night last night.

According to him, the rise in visitor arrivals also impacted Sarawak’s tourism receipts, which recorded approximately RM1.14 billion in August 2026, compared to RM1.06 billion during the same period last year.

He added that for the period from January to August 2026, Sarawak recorded 3,160,448 visitor arrivals compared to 3,205,519 in the same period of 2025, a slight decline of about 1.41 per cent.

Karim said that he still expects visitor arrival numbers to rise towards the end of the year, driven by various scheduled programmes and activities, particularly those taking place from mid-year through to the end of the year.

“I am not worried because there are usually plenty of events scheduled from mid-month through to the end of the year. I anticipate an increase,” he said.

However, he explained that the target of reaching five million visitors this year may present a challenge to achieve, with the total figure expected to remain above four million.

He noted that flight conditions and current developments in the Middle East are among the possible factors influencing the momentum of visitor arrivals to Sarawak.

He added that these circumstances could potentially lead to flight disruptions or cause tourists to alter their travel plans.

“Given the situation in the Middle East and other factors, I foresee some issues regarding flights. I am not overly optimistic,” he said.

Commenting on the haze currently affecting Sarawak, he stated that the situation has the potential to impact the tourism sector, particularly if it persists. -

Mothers, as main pillars in family institution, have great influence in shaping personalities of young people, says Henry

BAU, Sept 20 2026: Mothers, as the main pillars in a family institution, have a greater role to play in curbing social ills including drug and substance abuse and illegal racing activities among young people, Deputy Minister of Transport (Rivers and Marine) Henry Harry Jinep stressed.

Caption: Henry Harry Jinep says efforts to tackle drug and substance abuse and illegal racing activities must be implemented together to ensure that physical development can be balanced with the well-being of the community.

He said as the main pillars they have a great influence in shaping the personalities of children and curbing negative influences.

According to him, the issue of drug and substance abuse is still a challenge for the community in Bau despite the authorities continuing to intensify patrols and enforcement operations.

“This symptom has become a big problem for the community and we must find ways to work together with relevant agencies to deal with it.

“Although it cannot be completely eradicated, at least we can control and reduce it,” he said at the launch of the Singai Women’s Welfare Association at the Peter Nansian Ngusie Hall, Singai Research and Development Movement Sarawak (REDEEMS) Organisation Centre.

Henry, who is also the Chairman of the Bau District Community Intervention and Development Centre (CDIC), said moral support for former addicts after leaving the rehabilitation centre must continue to help them build a better life.

He said efforts to tackle drug and substance abuse and illegal racing activities must be implemented together to ensure that physical development can be balanced with the well-being of the community.

“At a time when we are developing rapidly, we often face the challenge of balancing physical progress and sustainability of life when faced with the issue of drug and substance abuse and illegal racing activities,” he said.

The ceremony was also attended by Singai Women’s Welfare Association Chairman Elizaberth Nayong, Bau District Officer Eddy Nayoi, REDEEMS President Peter Nansian Ngusie, Deputy Director (School Management Sector) Sarawak State Education Department Dr Les Met, Bau District Council Secretary Ong Chin Ping, Sarawak Rivers Board (LSS) Member Charles Chad Nissom, Bau District Bidayuh Community Pemanca Pemanca Robert Tom Juin and Singai Area Headman Penghulu Morris John Siren.

Air quality in Lubok Antu has again gone up to a very unhealthy category

KUCHING, Sept 20 2026: The air quality in Lubok Antu has gone up from an unhealthy to a very unhealthy categories, with the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at 216 level as at 8pm this evening.

Caption: Forest fires continue to rage Kalimantan

On the whole, the air quality across Sarawak has not improved much, as the weather monitoring stations show 16 locations in the unhealthy category.

The API reading in Serian was 176, folllowing by Kanowit 169, Samarahan 165, Kuching 163, Betong 161 while the API readings in Sibu, Miri and Bintulu all at 155,

The air quality in Bario and Lawas was categorised as moderate. 

20 September 2026, Sunday 8:00 P.M.

 

	STATION	INDEX	STATUS
	KUCHING	163	Unhealthy
	SAMARAHAN	165	Unhealthy
	SERIAN	176	Unhealthy
	SIMANGGANG	156	Unhealthy
	SARIKEI	120	Unhealthy
	SIBU	155	Unhealthy
	MUKAH	#	No latest data
	KAPIT	125	Unhealthy
	BINTULU	155	Unhealthy
	SAMALAJU	152	Unhealthy
	MIRI	155	Unhealthy
	ILP MIRI	112	Unhealthy
	LIMBANG	125	Unhealthy
	LUNDU	116	Unhealthy
	TEBEDU	137	Unhealthy
	LUBOK ANTU	216	Very Unhealthy
	KANOWIT	169	Unhealthy
	LAWAS	75	Moderate
	BARIO	63	Moderate
	BETONG (MCAQM)	161	Unhealthy
	INDEX	STATUS	HEALTH EFFECT
	0 – 50	Good	Low pollution without any bad effect on health.
	51 – 100	Moderate	Moderate pollution that does not pose any bad effect on health.
	101 – 200	Unhealthy	Worsen the health condition of high risk people who is the people with heart and lung complications.
	201 – 300	Very Unhealthy	Worsen the health condition and low tolerance of physical exercises to people with heart and lung complications. Affect public health.
	301 – 400	Hazardous	Hazardous to high risk people and public health.
	401 – 500	Very Hazardous	Hazardous to high risk people and public health.
	> 500	Very Hazardous	Hazardous to high risk people and public heal