‘Adat’ fest, tree-planting in Baleh signify SEB’s pledge to cultural, environmental preservation

KUCHING (Nov 20): Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) has launched the ‘Main Adat Asal Festival’ and a tree-planting drive in Baleh as part of the corporation’s commitment to upholding cultural and environmental preservation.

This initiative aims to safeguard the rich cultural heritage of Sarawak’s Iban community, fostering into them a strong community spirit through the celebration and revitalisation of indigenous games and cultural practices, and at the same time, contributing to global sustainability efforts.

SEB’s Baleh hydroelectricity plant (HEP) general manager Tan Hang Kiak emphasised these objectives further in his speech for the event’s opening ceremony recently.

“These initiatives are aimed at honouring and preserving the rich culture of the Iban community of Baleh by reviving their interest in traditional games, poetry, dance and also culinary heritage.

“Our ambitious tree-planting campaign is testament to our dedication to environmental stewardship. Together, these initiatives are a powerful expression and work on our responsibility to preserve our cultural identity and ensure a greener, more sustainable future for all,” he said.

At the event, the SEB also presented contributions to 54 longhouses in Baleh ahead of the Christmas celebration.

Tan added: “The Baleh Dam project team would continue to work in partnership with local agencies and communities to carry out social investment programmes, which would be centred on education for youths, culture and heritage, community development and entrepreneurship, as well as environmental management and conservation.

“It is worthy to mention the Baleh Youth Skills Training Programme and the Baleh Education Fund, which have benefitted youths from the areas in Baleh.

“Sarawak Energy also empowers the women artisans in Baleh through its handicraft development programmes, which aim to preserve culture and heritage as well as support entrepreneurship.”

Meanwhile, the ‘Main Adat Asal Festival’ featured many traditional games such as the ‘Batak Lampung’, a unique one-on-one tug-of-war; ‘Pekit Nyumpit’, a blowpipe competition; ‘Pekit Pantun’ and ‘Naku Buah Inyak’, showcasing the traditional Iban poetry; and ‘Pekit Selingkut’, a skills-focused game incorporating small rocks.

In addition, there were also a cooking competition and a ‘Ngajat’ (traditional dance) challenge being held.

“Other than the cultural festivities, we also collaborated with Department of Agriculture (DoA) Sarawak and the communities in Baleh in the tree-planting campaign.

“A total of 2,750 fruit tree seedlings were distributed and planted at longhouses across Baleh,” said SEB in a press statement released yesterday.

The launch of the tree-planting drive took place at SK Temenggong Koh, with Bukit Mabong District Officer Calvin Ligong officiating at the event where he was accompanied by Tan and representatives of DoA Sarawak.

“In line with our corporate-wide ‘Integrated Tree Planting Campaign’, we aim to plant and protect 500,000 trees by 2030.

“To date, more than 97,000 trees have been planted through collaborative efforts and initiatives across various business units.

“In 2020, we became the first corporate body in Malaysia to commit to the ‘Business Ambition for 1.5°C’ pledge under the United Nations (UN) Global Compact Network.

“By committing to limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2030, the company has also set science-based emission reduction targets across relevant scopes, in accordance with the Paris Agreement,” said SEB.

For the record, SEB is also one of the first 30 power utilities worldwide to adopt ‘Science-Based Targets for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions’, reflecting its proactive stance in addressing climate change.