Category: Arts

The current condition of the old Kuching Railway Terminus building. — Photos: courtesy of Sarawak Heritage Society THE Sarawak Heritage Society (SHS) made a fascinating revelation about Kuching’s history this week. According to the society, ongoing drainage works at Jalan Masjid, Jalan Market and Jalan Lebuh Jawa in the city centre have unearthed old railway tracks which used to serve Kuching in the early 20th century. “This re-discovery acts as a reminder that the area is charged with history,” SHS said in a statement. It said Sir Charles Brooke, Sarawak’s second Rajah, set up the Sarawak Government Railway Line which opened on April 9, 1916. The first phase of the track, which was completed in early 1915, connected the Kuching Railway Terminus to the Third Mile Bazaar, crossing Green Road and going along what used to be called Jalan Keretapi (now part of Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce). By the end of 1915, according to SHS, the line had been extended to the Seventh Mile Bazaar...

Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (third from right) and organisers of the Rainforest World Music Festival to be held in July. KUCHING: Thirty-nine groups from more than 20 countries will take part in the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), a top draw for foreign visitors, here from July 12 to 14. The showcase of international folk and indigenous music and songs, which began in 1998 with an audience of only about 300 people, is expected to draw a crowd in excess of 20,000 this year. According to the organisers, the festival will feature eight new countries or cultures, from Nagaland in northeast india, Bhutan, Canary Islands, Mauritius, West Kalimantan (Dayaks), Jamaica, Estonia as well as the Ainu culture from Japan. State Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told reporters today the Rainforest World Music Festival has put Sarawak on the world map for indigenous and folk music and songs. With the influx of...

KUCHING: Sarawak has identified 19 new historical buildings, monuments and sites to be added to its heritage list. Urban Development and Tourism Minister Datuk Wong Soon Koh said the additional sites were approved by the state Cabinet last month and were now in the process of being gazetted. The buildings, dating back to the 18th century, include the Tua Pek Kong Temple built in 1770, the Bishop's House (1848), St James' Church in Quop (1865), St Thomas' Secondary School (1885), St Joseph's Secondary School (1894), the Chinese Chamber of Commerce (1912) and a "baruk" or Bidayuh headhouse in Kampung Opar (1952). Also approved were five historical sites in the Santubong area near here, including Bongkissam, where a Buddhist tantric shrine has been discovered; Sungai Jaong, where there are primitive rock carvings; and Tanjong Kubor and Tanjong Tegok, the sites of ancient Chinese cemeteries. Wong said the newly-approved sites were all located in the Kuching division. "Slowly we will identify and approve more buildings and monuments...

Sagah (standing centre) with the villagers and committee members in a photocall. KUCHING: Assistant Minister of Native Land Development Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn on Saturday suggested that the Bisapug association set up a handicraft centre to promote local handicrafts and increase the socio economy of the people in the area. Sagah pointed out that the Bidayuh Bisapug villages — Kpg Sarig, Kpg Simpok and Kpg Mundai — are located within greater Kuching city and could become a tourist attraction. “I see great potential in the development of local handicrafts of the Bisapug community. It will benefit the locals if a handicraft centre can be built to sell the products to tourists,” Sagah pointed out when officiating the Bung Brunggu Heritage Trail Climbathon 2019 at Kpg Sarig in Padawan. Sagah, who is Tarat assemblyman, said the Bidayuhs should think of ways to generate income for the village and themselves, adding that there were many attractive places to be developed and promoted to tourists. “Bidayuhs cannot...

“AKTIVITI ini (bertaranum) sudah menjadi amalan saya. Bukan setakat di rumah, malah ketika di dalam kereta dan melepak bersama rakan juga saya bertaranum,” kata Hadi Mohd Sharkawi, 27, dari Sarawak.Peserta qari Majlis Tilawah dan Menghafaz al-Quran Peringkat Kebangsaan (MTHQK) 1440H/2019M berkata, dia mempunyai minat mendalam dalam bidang berkenaan sejak berusia lapan tahun. Katanya, disebabkan minat dia berusaha sendiri mendalami ilmu itu tanpa paksaan daripada bapa Mohd Sharkawi Ali Akbar, 60, dan ibu Eliza Said, 54, sebaliknya mereka yang memberi sokongan termasuk dari segi kewangan. “Biasanya apabila ada masa terluang saya membaca al-Quran dan bertaranum untuk meningkatkan kualiti bacaan.“Saya memperuntukkan masa tiga kali seminggu untuk bersenam dan berenang bagi mengekalkan stamina.“Setiap bulan saya ke Kuala Lumpur untuk belajar taranum dengan johan qari Tilawah al-Quran peringkat antarabangsa 2011, Ustaz Amir Rahman Abbas,” katanya.Jurutera penyelidik dan pembangunan elektrik di Sarawak Energy Bhd itu berkata, walaupun berdepan kesibukan kerja, tetapi dia perlu bijak membahagikan masa supaya minatnya dapat diteruskan.Katanya, dia sedang menyambung pengajian separuh masa dalam...

10 Perkara Menarik Tentang Sambutan Hari Raya di Sarawak By  Cikgu Emmet Menulis Foto oleh: Dayang Siti Aishah Sembilan hari lagi jika diizin Allah maka dapatlah kita menyambut Hari Raya Puasa atau Aidil Fitri. Sebagai orang Malaya yang tinggal di Bumi Kenyalang ini saya telah melalui suasana Hari Raya di Sarawak hampir belasan kali. Maka saya sudah tahu adat dan kelaziman tatkala Hari Raya disambut oleh masyarakat Islam di sini. Bagi sahabat saya yang berada di Semenanjung, saya ingin kongsikan sedikit apa yang LAZIM semasa menyambut Aidil Fitri di Sarawak. Manakala bagi yang pernah menetap di Sarawak semoga akan tergamit memori anda saat berhari raya di Sarawak. Bagi sahabat Sarawakian bolehlah tambah jika masih kurang maklumat yang saya sampaikan. 1. Kelupis Jika di Semenanjung, ketupat lemang menjadi hidangan ruji saat Hari Raya. Di Sarawak kami sering menyediakan Kelupis sebagai juadah. Rasanya seakan ketupat pulut cuma ia lebih lembut dan berkanji serta lebih manis rasanya. Selalu dimakan dengan rendang, kari dan sekaya telur. Hidangan ini memang hidangan asal masyarakat Borneo kerana selain...