Miri aims to become UNESCO Creative City of Literature by 2027

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By Christine T

KUCHING, Sept 8: Miri is aiming to be recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Literature by 2027, with the initiative expected to strengthen its literary ecosystem and create opportunities in culture, tourism and the creative industries.

Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the aspiration should not merely be about obtaining an international title but about creating a sustainable literary movement for the city.

“This is an ambitious undertaking, but it is also an important opportunity for Miri and Sarawak,” he said at a press conference on the Sarawak Literature Festival 2026 and the UNESCO aspiration held at the ministry’s meeting room in Baitulmakmur Building today.

He noted that the Sarawak Literature Festival 2026, scheduled from Sept 23 to 27 at the Miri Indoor Stadium and Pustaka Miri, would serve as an important platform in the city’s journey towards UNESCO recognition.

Abdul Karim said Miri did not want to be left behind after Kuching was recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, prompting the city to pursue literature as its own creative identity.

He said Miri had several strengths to support the aspiration, including its multicultural character, position as a gateway to northern Sarawak, and diverse communities, languages, traditions and stories.

“It also has strong institutions and partners, including Miri City Council, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, universities, schools, writers, publishers, cultural organisations and community groups. These strengths should form the foundation of Miri’s nomination,” he said.

Abdul Karim stressed that the initiative should become a city-wide movement involving writers, teachers, students, young people, indigenous communities, publishers, cultural practitioners and the public, rather than being seen solely as a government project.

He said literary activities should also be brought into schools, neighbourhoods, parks and public spaces so that literature became part of everyday city life.

He highlighted the preservation and promotion of Sarawak’s languages and literary traditions, particularly stories passed down through oral traditions and community memory.

“Many important stories still exist within oral traditions and community memory. We should encourage greater documentation, translation and publication of these stories so that they can be preserved for future generations,” he said.

Abdul Karim said Miri’s literary identity could complement its tourism strengths through literary trails, heritage storytelling, festivals, author residencies and cultural exchanges.

He added that joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network could provide opportunities for Miri to collaborate internationally and give greater exposure to Sarawak’s writers, stories and creative practitioners.

Abdul Karim said the application would take time and depend on how active the committee and stakeholders were in meeting the requirements.

“Hopefully, Miri can be recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Literature by 2027,” he said.

However, he noted that Sarawak could not submit the application as a State and would have to go through the relevant ministries and authorities at the national level.

Abdul Karim said priorities should include ensuring the initiative was inclusive and community-driven, strengthening Sarawak’s identity, languages and stories, placing young people at the centre, connecting literature with tourism and the creative economy, strengthening international collaboration and ensuring sustainability beyond the nomination process.

“The UNESCO aspiration should not simply be about obtaining a title. It should be about creating a lasting legacy for the people of Miri and Sarawak,” he said. – DayakDaily

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