SARATOK – The Saratok Festival 2025 has once again proven to be more than just a cultural celebration—it is a platform for strengthening community unity, preserving heritage, and promoting rural economic progress.
The two-week-long festival attracted over 1,000 visitors from diverse backgrounds who came together to enjoy cultural showcases, traditional cuisine, and local crafts, all while celebrating Saratok’s multicultural identity.
Kalaka State Assemblyman (ADUN) Mohamad Duri, in officiating the opening ceremony on Saturday, called for better coordination of festival calendars across Sarawak to avoid overlapping dates and locations.
“If our festivals are well-planned and don’t overlap, it would be easier to promote them to international tourists who could attend each one in sequence.
This will boost tourism and bring significant benefits to local entrepreneurs,” he said.
He also encouraged wider collaboration between communities, private sectors, and tourism agencies to further elevate the festival in coming years.
The Saratok Festival 2025 retained its uniqueness by highlighting ethnic performances, folk sports, and entrepreneurial exhibitions, particularly showcasing products from local food artisans and traditional handicraft makers.
Also present at the ceremony were Krian Assemblyman (ADUN) Friday Belik and other honoured guests, who expressed their support for the ongoing efforts to uplift Saratok as a vibrant cultural and economic destination.