KUCHING, Oct 17: Sarawak’s rich folklore risks fading into obscurity as people become increasingly engrossed in social media and global content, potentially knowing more about the wider world than the legends and stories rooted in their own communities.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said traditional stories needed to be documented and preserved before time erased them, especially as younger generations gravitated toward digital entertainment.
He cited the legend of Puteri Santubong as an example, noting that while many people knew the name, they might not know the story behind the legendary figure.
“Nowadays, we watch TikTok every day, (and) short movies only. We forget our own folklore,” he said during a press conference after officiating the Sarawak Folklore Writing Competition Awards Ceremony organised by DayakDaily at Imperial Hotel here today.
