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KUCHING: Some 2,000 Bisaya terms have been collected towards the target of 2,500 set by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) for the compilation of a Bisaya-Malay dictionary.
Chairman of Persatuan Bisaya Sarawak Cawangan Bandar Kuching (PBSCBK) Datuk Jack Liam said the initiative, which began in September 2025, was aimed at preserving the Bisaya language and providing a reference for the community in the future.
“So far, 2,000 terms have been successfully collected out of the 2,500-term target set by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
“The next process will be to translate each of the terms collected. Eventually, the draft will undergo a verification process with DBP and Bisaya language scholars from the Bisaya community in Limbang before it is published,” he said in his welcoming speech during the Majlis Badudun Badapun 2026 (Bisaya Cultural Night) event at the UNIFOR Complex here on Saturday (Sept. 19).
Jack said five workshops had been conducted so far for the dictionary initiative, led by Cikgu Etin Galis.
He said the initiative is among several efforts undertaken by PBSCBK in 2025 and 2026 to strengthen ties among members while preserving the community’s cultural heritage.
He said the main objective of Majlis Badudun Badapun 2026 is to strengthen friendship and unity among the Bisaya community in Kuching, Samarahan and Serian, while providing an opportunity for members to appreciate Bisaya culture through its language, music, dances and traditional attire.
“We want to build a community that not only knows one another, but also cares for, helps and supports each other.
“We want the spirit of ‘saganao’ or ‘sehati’ to remain our guiding principle – that although we come from different backgrounds and places, we remain connected as one community and one big Bisaya family,” he said.
Jack said PBSCBK has also been actively involved in welfare, social and cultural activities, including providing assistance to Bisaya community members who came to Kuching for further medical treatment.
He said the association would contribute where possible and make efforts to visit such members in hospitals.
Among other initiatives is the ‘Bengkel Babanding dan Bagandang’ workshop held on Sept. 16, which provided exposure to younger generations on traditional gong music and babanding, a form of traditional singing and attracted 44 participants.
PBSCBK also organised a sharing session on the origins of the Bisaya community in Sarawak by Antonius Lapan Sindang on Dec. 5 last year as well as participating in state-level programmes and events such as Niti Daun or Gawai processions and the World Rainforest Music Festival.
Looking ahead, Jack said PBSCBK planned to expand its activities to benefit not only members of the Kuching branch but also the younger generation in Limbang, the community’s place of origin, through Persatuan Bisaya Sarawak.
He said the association also planned to explore initiatives to expose the community to government opportunities in areas such as business, agriculture, services and tourism.
This would include providing information on development projects that could be applied for, as well as guidance on preparing proposals and applying for the necessary funding.
He said such programmes would be pursued in collaboration with the Limbang Resident’s Office, Limbang District Office, Northern Region Development Authority (NRDA), and Persatuan Bisaya Sarawak.
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