Drafts of reviewed Adats of four Dayak communities submitted to the State Attorney-General's Chambers for review, says Sikie

KUCHING, Oct 19 2026: Minister in the Premier's Department John Sikie Tayai told the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) that the drafts of the reviewed Adat Iban, Adat Bidayuh, Adet Kayan and Adet Kenyah have submitted in June 2026 to the State Attorney-General’s Chambers (SAGC) for review.

Caption: Minister John Sikie Tayai says Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak (MAIS) is currently preparing the explanatory notes to accompany the text under review

He said that the drafts of Adet Melanau, Adet Bagatan, Adet Berawan and Adet Kiput are also under the review of State Attorney-General’s Chambers (SAGC). 

"While awaiting clearance from the State Attorney-General’s Chambers (SAGC) on the drafts of the reviewed text of all the Adat, Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak (MAIS) is currently preparing the explanatory notes to accompany the text under review," he said.

He added the explanatory notes are intended to provide clearer understanding and practical guidance on Adat to all parties involved in its administration, as well as members of the public who have an interest in understanding Adat.

"Additionally, efforts are also ongoing to review four  existing Adat codes specifically, Adat Bisaya, Adat Lun Bawang, Adet Penan and Adet Kelabit," he added.

He said MAIS is also preparing to commence preliminary work for the codification of three Adat, namely, Adet Tagal, Adet Punan and Adat Iban Remun

Should pre-gawai be held not earlier than May 1 and Gawai celebration to conclude on June 30 each year?

KUCHING. Oct 19 2026: Should pre-Gawai Dayak celebration (mantar gawai) be held no earlier than May 1 and that the Gawai celebration to conclude no later than June 30 each year? 

Caption: Minister John Sikie Tayai (;eft) with his deputy Jefferson Jamit 

Minister in the Premier's Department John Sikie Tayai said this was one of the resulutions adopted at a symposium attended by 470 community leaders, headmen, non-governmental organisations and institutions of higher learning in Sibu recently.

He said the resolution was tabled  by a Temenggong and subsequently received unanimous support from all community leaders in attendance. 

"This collective agreement reflects their shared commitment to safeguarding the significance, traditions and cultural integrity of Gawai Dayak, while ensuring that its celebration on 1 June remains the focal point of this important cultural heritage," Sikie said in his winding up speech in the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) today.

He, however, did not say if the Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak (MAIS) (Sarawak Council of Customs and Traditions) would adopt the resolution as binding.

Sikie said MAIS has been actively conducts capacity building programmes such as workshops and seminars to equip native community leaders with the latest information and a deeper understanding of Adat at the grassroots level. 

"As of third quarter of 2026, a total of five capacity building programmes have been organised for 190 community leaders from Betong, Mukah, Dalat, Sibu, Kuching and Serian," he said.

He said MAIS is planning to organise an Orang Ulu Culture and Tradition Symposium in 2027 to showcase rich cultural heritage of all Orang Ulu ethnic and sub-groups in Sarawak. 

6,246 students have accepted FTES at Sarawak-owned higher institutions as of Sept 30 2026

KUCHING, Oct 19 2026: Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Roland Sagah Wee Inn said a total of 6,246 students have accepted the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) at Sarawak-owned Institutions of Higher Learning (SIHLs) as of Sept 30 this year.

Caption: Minister Roland Sagah Wee Inn (seated, centre) giving a press conference after delivering his winding up speech in the State Legislative Assembly

He said these students are enrolled across the four SIHLs, with Curtin University Malaysia accepting 949 students; i-CATS University College 464 students; and  Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus
2,802 students, University of Technology Sarawak 2,031 students.

"My ministry remains committed to the continued implementation of FTES, to ensure that eligible Sarawakian students have greater access to quality higher education, without the financial burden of tuition fees," he said in his winding up speech in the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) today.

Sagah said recognising that the cost of pursuing higher education, the state government also provides an annual stipend of RM15,000, to eligible students from lower-income households. 

He added the stipend is to help cover their living and accommodation expenses, noting that to date, 3,195 students, of those who have accepted the FTES offer, qualify for the stipend.

He said the 2026 student intake across the 64 courses under the FTES, experienced significant growth, rising to 3,491 students, compared to 1,528 in 2025 intake, prior to the establishment of FTES.

"This represents a substantial increase of 1,963 students or 128.5%. These courses cover a range of disciplines relevant to Sarawak's strategic economic priorities, including the hydrogen economy, precision agriculture, data centre
development and the aerospace industry. 

"We are confident that this momentum will be sustained," he stressed.

Sagah also said a feasibility study for the establishment of the first wholly state-owned Faculty of Medicine at University Technology Sarawak (UTS) has been completed

He said the next step is to fulfil the relevant requirements and criteria, and approval by Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysian Medical Council and  Malaysian Qualifications
Agency, including the necessary infrastructure, before the medical programme can commence.

Asian International Arbitration Centre sets up its branch office in Kuching, first outside Kuala Lumpur

KUCHING, Oct 19 2026: The Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) opens its branch office in Sarawak, the first outside Kuala Lumpur,  after almost 50 years of its establishment in Malaysia.

Caption: Minister of Law and Institutional Reforms Azalina Othman Said (with dark glasses) arriving to witness the signing of an agreement to set up AIAC branch office in Kuching

An agreement to set up the branch was signed today in the presence of Premier Abang Johari Openg, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Azalina Othman Said, Sarawak State Secretary Abu Bakar Marzuki, alongside other key officials representing both the federal and Sarawak government as well as industry stakeholders. 

In a  statement, AIAC said the  Sarawak branch office is well-positioned as a regional hub to ensure that commercial disputes are effectively resolved. 

It said the Sarawak branch reinforces a longstanding commitment in ensuring parallel development of the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) landscape in Sarawak, Borneo and beyond. 

"Establishing the AIAC’s physical presence now in Kuching proves our testament to broadening access to justice, offering a proximity to ADR solutions that are within the reach of the people," AIAC said.

Importantly, it added the Sarawak branch is aspired to become a value-creating entity that bridges ADR collaboration, creates employment opportunity, cultivates talent through capacity-building and empowers the local community in this collective pursuit. 

"Above all, these efforts are driven with a shared ambition in mind in building a sustainable dispute resolution ecosystem and strengthening Malaysia’s position as a global home for ADR," AIAC said.

It records its utmost appreciation to the premier and Sarawak government, Azalina, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63) and State-Federal Relations) Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, State Attorney-General Saferi Ali.

SIDC conducting research to identify generic variants linked to adervse reactions to tuberculosis treatment

KUCHING, Oct 19 2026: Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) has initiated a pharmacogenomic pilot study using PacBio human genome sequencing to identify genetic variants linked to adverse reactions to tuberculosis treatment, supporting more personalised antibiotic treatment based on individual genetic profiles.

Caption: Minister Roland Sagah Wee Inn says SIDC, in collaboration with international research institutions, conducting researcch in African Swine Fever prevention and control

Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Roland Sagah Wee Inn also said SIDC has secured RM18.38 million from UK Research and Innovation, in collaboration with the University of Sheffield, University of Liverpool, and BIOTEC-NSTDA of Thailand, to research African Swine Fever prevention and control. 

"At the same time, SIDC will receive RM270,000, from UK-SEA Vax Hub, Proof of Concept grant, to investigate silica-based virus stabilisation for vaccine applications, strengthening its international research collaboration and research and development (R&D) capabilities.

"SIDC continues to strengthen local scientific talent through PhD studies in Australia, supported by RM1.0 million in combined funding, and RM290,000 in external funding for specialised training in epidemiology, genomics, genomic surveillance and vaccine research in the United Kingdom," he said in his winding up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) today.

He said SIDC will continue to advance Sarawak's capabilities in infectious disease research and public health, adding that its RM320 million facility was 90% complete, as of August 2026, with its official launch targeted in the third quarter of 2027.

"Under its Disease Surveillance Programme (DSP), 13 exercises have been conducted across Southern Sarawak, reaching over 1,000 participants," he said pointing out that the Gedong Pangkor exercise, witnessed by Premier Abang Johari Openg yesterday, also marked the launch of SIDC's first mobile laboratory. 

"In 2027, the programme will expand to eight sites in Central Sarawak, including Kapit, Sebauh and Mukah, to strengthen disease surveillance and public health interventions," Sagah said.