Media plays vital role in putting Sarawak on global stage, says Deputy Tourism Minister

KUCHING (Jan 30): The media plays an important role in promoting Sarawak to the world as Malaysia intensifies efforts under the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign, said Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Chiew Choon Man.

He said close collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) and the media is crucial to ensure Sarawak’s tourism offerings, arts and cultural heritage are effectively showcased to both domestic and international audiences.

“For us at Motac this year, our campaign is Visit Malaysia 2026. So, we hope that with close collaboration with the media team, we can showcase the beauty of our Sarawak to the world,” he told reporters during a session with Kuching media practitioners at a restaurant here.

Chiew, who is also Miri MP, said the gathering was aimed at fostering closer ties with the media, about one and a half months after his appointment as deputy minister.

He added that the media plays a key role not only in promoting tourism but also in highlighting issues affecting local communities.

“There may be a lot of challenges and issues that I think the media might be interested in, so they can always communicate with me in the future. I look forward to seeing how we can champion these issues together,” he said.

Chiew cited a recent issue involving umrah services in Miri as an example of how media reporting can help bring public concerns to the attention of the authorities.

He further encouraged media practitioners to maintain open communication with Motac on matters related to tourism, arts and culture.

“So in the future, if there are any issues that you think need to contact Motac, feel free to contact me, and I will assist you,” he said, adding that he hoped for continued engagement during future visits to Kuching.