History must be preserved, studied to shape Sarawak’s future
KUCHING, 29 September 2026: The history of Sarawak must continue to be preserved, studied and shared with younger generations as an important foundation for understanding the State’s identity and its role in the formation of Malaysia.
Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the State’s history encompassed not only dates, figures and events, but also the experiences of its people, changes in administration and struggles that had shaped Sarawak into what it is today.
“History is not merely something we inherit. History is something we need to understand, learn from and utilise to shape the future,” he said when officiating the International Conference on Sarawak History (PASS) 2026 at Wisma Melayu Sarawak here today.
Abdul Karim said Sarawak’s historical journey, from early civilisations and local resistance against foreign expansion to the Japanese occupation, nationalist movements, administrative developments and the formation of Malaysia in 1963, contained significant values and lessons for the country.
He said the State’s history should therefore continue to be researched and documented so future generations could better understand Sarawak’s contribution to the development of Malaysia.
“Sarawak’s journey towards the formation of Malaysia is an important historical episode that must continue to be studied and documented so that future generations can understand the significance of the State in a more comprehensive manner,” he said.
Abdul Karim also highlighted Sarawak’s ethnic and cultural diversity, describing its different languages, customs, beliefs and traditions as a heritage that must be preserved and passed on.
He said history and heritage were closely linked to the development of tourism, culture and the creative industries in Sarawak.
“History and heritage are not only highly valuable as sources of education, research and creativity, but also serve as drivers of domestic and international tourism,” he said.
Abdul Karim also described history as a potential bridge for strengthening unity in a multicultural society, based on Sarawak’s own experience.
“We do not need to be the same to live together. Instead, we need to understand and respect the differences that exist,” he said.
Abdul Karim stressed that effective documentation and preservation were fundamental to making use of the resources, citing the roles of institutions including the National Archives of Malaysia, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak and the Sarawak Museum Department in safeguarding the State’s historical resources.
He also called for greater reliance on original and authoritative archival sources in historical research and writing to ensure factual accuracy and quality.
He further called for academics, researchers, university students and the wider community to play a greater role in generating new perspectives and research on Sarawak’s history.
“Knowledge should not remain within academic circles. Instead, it needs to be conveyed to society in a way that is easy to understand and engaging, particularly for the younger generation,” he said.
The two-day conference is expected to contribute to the enrichment of the nation’s historical resources, with 19 speakers scheduled to share their experiences and research findings through keynote presentations and papers.
