Harness the Beauty and Cultural Richness of Sabah as Creative Inspiration

11 November 2025

KOTA KINABALU: The beauty of Sabah’s flora and fauna, along with its diverse ethnic groups and cultural heritage, should be fully explored by writers and literary advocates to produce high-quality works.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said this aligns with the State Government’s ongoing commitment to support the efforts of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and local writers in expanding literary and reading culture activities across the state.

“Sabah is not only blessed with rich natural beauty but also with a wealth of ethnic and cultural diversity. This diversity, which gives Sabah its unique identity and distinction, should be preserved, whether through book publications or intellectual events such as literary discussions and seminars.

“Our unique and invaluable heritage, a reflection of our people’s wisdom, must be written about and shared. As the custodians of this heritage, we bear the responsibility to record it in various forms of knowledge dissemination for the reading and understanding of society.

“Sabah’s history is filled with narratives that have yet to be fully explored, including those related to culture and socio-economic development. All of these must be documented before they are lost to history,” he said.

He said this during the Launch of New Books by Sabah Writers published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) 2024/2025 and the Presentation Ceremony for the Illustrated Children’s Story Writing Competition, held here on Tuesday.

His speech was delivered by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif.

He also expressed hope that DBP Sabah, in particular, would continue to uphold the prestige of the national language and literature through the publication of high-quality works across various fields of knowledge — including language, literature, science, local wisdom, and religion.

“Therefore, I hope the books launched today will serve as valuable references for students, researchers, teachers, lecturers, writers, and the general public.

“The books launched today demonstrate the dedication of writers and editors in strengthening the MADANI society through the development and preservation of a culture of knowledge. This effort also highlights DBP’s role as an institution that remains relevant and competitive in facing the challenges of globalisation,” he said.

The Chief Minister further suggested that libraries throughout Sabah, as well as government departments and private sector organisations, acquire the newly launched books as part of their reading corner or library collections.

“This approach is also a way of recognising the writers being celebrated today and promoting their works,” he said, adding that he was proud that several Sabah writers have received recognition not only at the state and national levels but also internationally.