KUCHING, Oct 13: Bidayuh oral histories, traditional customs and ancestral knowledge risk being forgotten unless they are systematically documented and preserved, says Tebedu assemblyman Dr Simon Sinang Bada.
He called for the Sarawak State Library to expand its efforts to document indigenous heritage and develop a comprehensive digital archive covering the histories, traditions and experiences of communities across the State.
Speaking during the debate on the Sarawak State Library (Amendment) Bill 2026 at the State Legislative Assembly (DUS) today, Dr Simon said much of the history of rural communities, particularly the Bidayuh, had been passed down orally from one generation to the next.
These include stories of village origins, migration, traditional leadership, marriage customs, agricultural practices and traditional architecture, much of which remains dependent on the recollections of older generations.
