KUCHING – The Governor of Sarawak, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi bin Tuanku Jaafar, accompanied by his consort, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Hajjah Fauziah binti Mohd Sanusi, officiated the 70th Anniversary Celebration of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) at national level, held at the Pullman Hotel in Kuching this morning.
Their arrival was warmly received by Sarawak’s Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, together with his wife Datin Simba Nalang.
Also present were National Laureate Datuk Dr Anwar Ridhwan, who chairs the DBP Governing Board on behalf of the Malaysian Minister of Education, alongside senior officials including the Ministry’s Secretary General Dato’ Wan Hashim bin Wan Rahim and DBP Director General Datuk Dr Haji Hazami Jahari.
The event drew participation from a wide range of dignitaries, including Daro State Assemblyman Dr Haji Shafiee bin Haji Ahmad, who chaired the programme committee, DBP Board Member Dato Dr Jeniri Amir, and DBP Sarawak Branch Director Dr Azizul Haji Ismail. Representatives from government agencies, department heads and invited guests also attended.
The ceremony opened with a performance by students from the Sarawak Art School, combining poetry by the late Usman Awang with creative stage elements to highlight the richness of Malay language and literature.
Guests were later shown a commemorative video chronicling DBP’s seven decades of contributions in promoting the national language, expanding knowledge, and nurturing literary excellence.
In his welcoming remarks, Datuk Dr Anwar Ridhwan expressed gratitude for the Governor and Toh Puan’s presence, describing it as a mark of continued support for the Malay language as a unifying national identity.
He emphasised the importance of DBP’s mission in elevating Malay as a language of knowledge andunity whilee wishing the Governor and his consort good health in their service to Sarawak and Malaysia.
Tun Pehin Sri Wan Junaidi then officiated the celebration by placing DBP’s 70th Anniversary Logo into a specially prepared box, symbolising the formal launch of the milestone event.
The programme continued with a theatrical presentation titled Za’ba: Jauhar Pahlawan Bahasa, staged by Semarak Kreatif.
The performance honoured the legacy of Za’ba, a revered figure in the struggle to uphold Malay as a language of scholarship and national cohesion.
With the theme Restu Jiwa Pahlawan, the production reflected DBP’s ongoing efforts to instil pride in language and strengthen cultural identity among younger generations.
The governor and Toh Puan later conveyed their appreciation to DBP for selecting Sarawak as host for the national celebration.
They noted that the decision underscored Sarawak’s role in supporting the Malay language as a bridge for unity, harmony and identity within Malaysia’s diverse society.
The 70th anniversary celebration not only marked DBP’s historical achievements but also reaffirmed its commitment to advancing language and literature as vital pillars of national development.
