The star in the radar of the new destination WAK Festival

KUCHING, 3 Oct: Bintulu is on the radar as a new destination for WAK Festival in an effort to build a network of creative platforms connecting arts and cultural communities across Sarawak.

Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said that Bintulu is among the locations to be explored as the festival's new location after Kuching, Sibu and Miri.

"With the WAK Festival now moving to the next phase, I am very much encouraging the organisers to be more ambitious, strengthening the links between Kuching, Sibu, Miri and other parts of the capital.

"Explore Bintulu and other communities when the time comes. But, we are also looking at Bintulu as a new location in the future, Insya-Allah, in collaboration with the organizers along with the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts of Sarawak", he said.

He said this through the text of a speech read by Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah at the WAK Festival 2026 Launch Meeting here today.

WAK Festival which started in Kuching in 2017 is now entering its eighth edition, while WAK Sibu and WAK Miri are respectively entering their third.

Brother Johari said the development of the festival proves that WAK concept is acceptable and developed together with the community without imposing a single model on each city.

He said that if WAK continues to expand to Bintulu and other parts, it has the potential to form a network of creative festivals across Sarawak.

"Imagine in the coming years, a network of WAK festivals across Sarawak, with each celebrating its community's unique character and creativity.

"At the same time, it collectively brings to Malaysia and the world the extraordinary diversity that exists in Sarawak", he said.

Brother Johari said the expansion of WAK could also open up more opportunities for creative activists, besides utilizing public space and boosting local economy.

He said the platform is in line with Sarawak's aspiration to develop tourism, innovation, talent and creative industries as part of the state's economic ecosystem.

He also encouraged cooperation with Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia in particular West and East Kalimantan, Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia and Mindanao.

Meanwhile, WAK Festival Director and Founder Donald Tan said that the strength of the platform since its inception in 2017 lies in its ability to bring together Sarawak's creative community and provide space for ideas and collaboration to grow.

According to him, the support of the Government of Sarawak is not only a commitment to WAK as a festival but also reflects support for the entire artistic, cultural and lifestyle ecosystem in Sarawak.

"We are delighted that the Premier of Sarawak has offered to launch WAK Festival for a second time, thus demonstrating confidence in this platform.

"We are committed to our responsibility to continue fighting for Sarawak's creative community, encompassing art activists, musicians, designers, entrepreneurs and new talent, by providing more opportunities for them to be recognized and appreciated", he said at the same event.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Sarawak, Datuk Snowdan Lawan and the Mayor of North Kuching, Dato Hilmy Othman were also present. - TVS