KUCHING – Sarawak siblings Shawn Thien and Jane Thien have been named among the Top Five National Stars Award holders for 2026/27 in the Traditional Music Instruments category, marking a national recognition for their work with traditional music.
The duo, known as SJ Borneo, received the recognition during the National Stars Award 2026/27 Gala Award Ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 22.
Their selection comes after years of involvement in music competitions, cultural exchange programmes and performances featuring the Sape, Djembe, vocals and contemporary musical elements.
Their work has focused on introducing Sarawak’s traditional sounds to audiences through performances that combine heritage instruments with modern approaches.
The National Stars Award, or Anugerah Bintang Negara, is held every two years to recognise young talents who have demonstrated achievement, dedication and continued involvement in their respective fields.
For the 2026 edition, 357 nominees competed for recognition, with 103 award holders selected across 11 major categories. SJ Borneo was among the five recognised in the Traditional Music Instruments category.
The award’s nomination requirements include achieving first, second or third place, or receiving an official title, in at least three competitions within the same talent category between 2021 and 2026. Achievements at national and international levels are given particular consideration.
For Shawn and Jane, the latest recognition follows their participation in a range of musical activities in recent years.
Their performances have incorporated the Sape and Djembe alongside vocals and other musical elements as they seek to present Sarawak’s traditional music to audiences on different platforms.
The siblings have also taken part in local and international music competitions and cultural exchange programmes.
Their involvement has reflected an effort to keep traditional music relevant to younger audiences while maintaining its connection with Sarawak’s cultural heritage.
SJ Borneo said the recognition was an honour and provided an opportunity to introduce Sarawak’s Sape music to a wider audience.
“We are truly honoured to have the opportunity to bring Sarawak’s traditional Sape music to a wider audience and to let more people discover, appreciate and understand our cultural heritage,” the siblings said.
They also said they hoped to continue developing their musical abilities while promoting traditional music beyond Sarawak.
The siblings believe the Sape can be preserved as an important part of Sarawak’s heritage while also evolving through contemporary performances and cultural exchanges with audiences outside the state.
“We hope our music can help more people discover Sarawak and inspire more young people to appreciate our traditional music,” they said.
“Traditional music can be vibrant, creative and relevant, and we hope to bring it to bigger stages in the future,” they added.
The duo also thanked the National Stars Award Committee and organisers, as well as their family, teachers, mentors and friends, for their support throughout their musical activities.
The Top Five recognition gives SJ Borneo a national platform to further present Sarawak’s traditional music. For the siblings, the Sape remains central to their efforts to share the state’s musical heritage with audiences in Malaysia and internationally.
