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Sarawak eyes first train link to Trans Borneo Railway BINTULU: Sarawak is pushing ahead with plans to build its first-ever rail line – a 100km track connecting Bintulu town to the Samalaju Heavy Industrial Estate in the north – with the ambition of eventually linking the route into the larger Trans Borneo Railway, a cross-border mega project intended to unite Sarawak, Sabah and the new Indonesian capital of Nusantara in Kalimantan. Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg disclosed the plans during a working visit to Bintulu, the state’s principal natural gas hub on Saturday. He confirmed that a formal proposal has been submitted to the federal government, with the state also open to drawing in private capital if federal funding fell short. “Our plan is that the Bintulu Samalaju railway route will be linked to the Trans Borneo Railway project,“ Abang Johari said at a gathering with local community leaders. He described Samalaju as Sarawak’s largest heavy industrial zone, home to chemical plants, aluminium smelters and a range of engineering firms. The Trans Borneo Railway envisions trains serving both social connectivity and industrial logistics across Borneo Island. The broader Trans Borneo Railway concept was formally tabled in Parliament in February last year, during which legislators urged authorities to fast-track the ongoing feasibility study – funded through a RM7 million federal allocation from the Transport Ministry – and move toward ground-breaking without delay. Transport Deputy Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah subsequently outlined the envisioned service model – trains would dedicate 30% of their capacity to passengers and the remaining 70% to freight such as foodstuffs and industrial goods. “The Trans Borneo trains must serve social roles to connect people as well as to facilitate progress.“ He added that the technical, commercial, socio-economic and financial dimensions of the project were all under active review. Sarawak’s Batang Sadong MP Rodiyah Sapiee, who raised the matter in the Dewan Rakyat, argued that the case for speed was compelling. Borneo is home to some 23 million people and she pointed to the rapid growth of Nusantara as another reason to accelerate the rail link line. “The plan for the railway project is a very good idea,“ she said, adding that the Indonesian capital’s development was expected to draw millions to the island in the years ahead, making robust cross-border infrastructure all the more vital. Ű BY JOSEPH PETER newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Using power of art in fight to save Malayan tiger

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Young artists become advocates of animal preservation by showcasing creative works at exhibition, highlighting awareness and collective responsibility

pushed and personally, and strengthened my purpose as a visual storyteller that could inspire greater awareness and empathy through my work.” Primary school first-prize winner Tan Zhi Qi, 10, from SJK(C) Foon Yew 1, said her drawing was meant to show that children also had a role in protecting nature and the Malayan tiger. “My drawing is a visual pledge for a more sustainable and caring future, in which people work together to protect animals, forests and our shared heritage. “Through this competition, I learned that even small actions and ideas can create a big impact, and I hope my artwork encourages more young people to care for the world around us,” she said. Winners received first, second, third and jury special prizes, sharing RM55,500 in cash awards. Visitors to the exhibition may also contribute to tiger preservation efforts through MaybankHeart, Maybank’s crowdfunding platform, in collaboration WWF-Malaysia. The competition is part of Maybank Foundation’s Balai Seni Art Series, an arts and culture initiative that the foundation said has reached more than 6,300 art beneficiaries through over 40 exhibitions and intiatives since 1988. The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 5pm at Stadium Merdeka, with no bookings or tickets required. me creatively

PETALING JAYA: The fight to save the Malayan tiger has found an unexpected canvas at Stadium Merdeka, where 36 young Malaysian artists are using drawings, illustrations, photo imaging and sequential art to turn preservation efforts into a public project. Their works form the 9th MyTIGER Values Art Competition and Exhibition (MTVACE) 2026, organised by Maybank Foundation in partnership with Kakiseni, after the competition drew 3,213 submissions from 341 schools and learning institutions nationwide. The exhibition, open to the public until June 7, honours young winners from primary schools, secondary schools and universities, while continuing to include participants from the Persons with Disabilities community and students under the Education Ministry’s Integrated Special Education Programme. It also links Maybank’s TIGER values – Teamwork, Integrity, Growth, Excellence and Efficiency, and Relationship Building – with wider themes of sustainability, empathy and tiger preservation. The theme carries urgency beyond the exhibition hall. WWF-Malaysia has said fewer than 150 Malayan tigers remain in the wild, with the national animal threatened by poaching, the illegal Its minister Datuk Seri Aaron Ago Dagang said the ceremony has great potential to be recognised as an intangible cultural heritage at the national level and subsequently considered under Unesco. He said the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, through the National Heritage Department, needs to gazette the ceremony as a national heritage first so that it can be documented, preserved and promoted more comprehensively. “Based on its cultural, historical and authentic values, the miring ceremony is a traditional ritual rich in spiritual meaning, gratitude, respect for nature and prayers for wellbeing. “It is still practised today, especially during the Gawai celebration and other traditional ceremonies of the Dayak community,” he said when officiating at the Sibu Division Pre Gawai event on Saturday. On efforts to preserve the Dayak culture, Aaron also commended the recognition of the Ngajat dance as a national heritage in 2007,

wildlife trade, habitat loss, forest fragmentation and declining prey. Maybank Foundation chairman Tan Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said the competition has grown into a platform for students and youth to become advocates for the survival of the Malayan tiger. “As we broaden our efforts from protecting tigers in the wild to inspiring action within our communities, MTVACE has evolved into a meaningful platform for students and youth to become advocates. “Through the power of art and storytelling, we are nurturing a generation that not only values creativity, but also understands its role in driving preservation awareness, empathy and collective responsibility for our natural heritage,” he said. Maybank Group chief sustainability officer Datuk Shahril Azuar Jimin said the programme showed how art could connect values with emotion, purpose and action. He said the works reflect the ability of young Malaysians to respond to environmental and

social issues through creativity, rather than treating sustainability as a distant or abstract subject. “Through this programme, we are empowering young creatives to become advocates for a more sustainable and compassionate future, one that reflects the aspirations of Maybank Group’s ROAR30 strategy and its social impact mission in driving positive change across communities. “The works showcased here reflect the strength of the next generation to lead with empathy, creativity and conviction, while inspiring greater awareness and collective responsibility towards environmental conservation and social progress,” he said. University category illustration first-prize winner Amelia Mimie Michael, 26, from TVET Mara Rembau, said the competition pushed her to see art as more than personal expression. “This competition challenged me to look beyond art as just a form of expression, and instead use it as a voice for change. Interpreting themes such as climate action and integrity through sequential art

Dayak miring ceremony has national heritage potential: Minister SIBU: The National Unity Ministry has proposed that the traditional Dayak miring ceremony be gazetted as a national heritage.

Aaron receiving a souvenir from Malam Mantar Gawai Dayak Sibu 2026 chairman Angelyn Uchi Maseng at the event. – BERNAMAPIC

society as a means of strengthening unity among the people. “With strong unity, our country will continue to enjoy peace and harmony. The cultural heritage we possess not only reflects the history and identity of a community, but also forms the foundation of social

harmony in this country,” he said. The ceremony, held to welcome the upcoming Gawai festival, was jointly organised by Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak Sibu, Sarawak Dayak National Union Sibu and the Orang Ulu National Association Sibu. – Bernama

describing it as proof of the country’s commitment to preserving indigenous cultural traditions. He also called on all parties to continue playing their role in safeguarding the traditional heritage of Malaysia’s multi-ethnic