MIRI, May 22 2026: The preservation of indigenous languages needs to be strengthened because it is not just a medium of communication, but rather an important core in defending the identity, history and cultural heritage of the community in Sarawak.
Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) and Mulu State Assemblyman (SLA) Gerawat Gala said language is the soul of a community because it contains cultural values, customs, oral traditions and collective memory that are passed down from generation to generation.
According to him, the loss of a language not only causes the disappearance of words, but also removes traditional knowledge, ancestral wisdom and unique perspectives in understanding life and the environment.
“Language is not just a means of communication. Language is the soul of a community that carries the history, values, customs and identity of a society.
“The preservation of indigenous languages such as Kayan does not only protect the heritage of a community, but also defends the cultural identity of Sarawak as a whole,” he said when officiating the launch of the Endangered Languages Fund (ELF) Language Legacy Project of the Kayan Online Ethnographic Dictionary at the Curtin University Malaysia Auditorium, today.
According to him, many indigenous languages around the world are now facing threats due to the tide of modernisation, migration to cities and the influence of global languages in education, media and technology.
He said that today’s younger generation is increasingly using traditional languages in their daily lives, raising concerns that the language could disappear if conservation efforts are not carried out seriously and continuously.
Therefore, he described the development of the Kayan Online Ethnographic Dictionary as the right and relevant step in ensuring that the Kayan language and culture continue to be preserved and passed on to future generations.
According to him, the project successfully combines modern technology, academic research and community knowledge in an effort to strengthen the preservation of cultural heritage in the era digital.
In addition to the online dictionary, the project also includes an official YouTube channel and a Kayan language website that will be launched soon.
Gerawat also stressed that the preservation of cultural heritage requires close cooperation between the government, educational institutions, researchers and local communities so that indigenous languages and traditions continue to remain relevant in the future.
At the same time, he appreciated the role of Curtin University Malaysia which is actively strengthening research related to Borneo heritage, indigenous knowledge and cultural sustainability through an approach that directly involves the community.
Earlier, the representative of the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Curtin Malaysia, Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu said that the project led by Dr Roselind Wan is not just documenting words, but also recording the life experiences, culture and identity of the Kayan community.
The launch ceremony was also graced with cultural performances, special video screenings, the presentation of certificates of appreciation to Kayan senior citizens as language contributors and the Kayan Language Heritage Award before Gerawat completed the gimmick of the official launch of the Kayan Online Ethnographic Dictionary.-
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