Sarawak has clocked a GDP per capita of RM73,757 in 2025, comfortably above the national average of RM59,167. The latest numbers from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) show Sarawak is punching above its weight economically — joining KL, Putrajaya, Labuan, Penang and Selangor as states that beat the national average. [image: 1782885725943-sarawak-gdp-2025.jpg] By the numbers Sarawak's total GDP hit RM153.5 billion, growing 3.6% from 2024 Services sector led the charge, up 5.4% — driven by wholesale & retail trade, F&B, accommodation, utilities, transport, storage and ICT Agriculture grew 4.3%, thanks to higher oil palm production Mining & quarrying rose 2.7%, supported by natural gas output Manufacturing was flat at 0.1% National GDP expanded 5.2% to RM1.74 trillion, with Construction being the fastest-growing sector nationwide at 12.2%. Where Sarawak stands Despite growing at a more moderate 3.6%, Sarawak remains one of Malaysia's most economically significant states. Alongside KL, Johor and Penang, Sarawak accounted for a big chunk of the country's total economic output. Chief Statistician Dato' Sri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin noted that all states recorded positive growth in 2025, reflecting a resilient economic environment despite global uncertainties. DOSM added that Malaysia's 2026 outlook stays positive — Q1 2026 already shows 5.4% GDP growth and a record-high 70.8% labour force participation. Location: Sarawak Details: DOSM State GDP Report 2025, released July 1, 2026 Source: DayakDaily What do you think?

Sabah and Sarawak have agreed to formalise cross-regional economic cooperation in Borneo, marking a strategic push to strengthen trade, investment, and overall regional development. Sabah Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Ewon Benedick said the agreement was reached after a courtesy call on Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan on June 26. The collaboration will be coordinated between Sabah's Ministry of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship and Sarawak's Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED). "Sabah needs Sarawak, and Sarawak needs Sabah to ensure this Borneo territory develops more dynamically," Ewon said at the launch of the 17th DCCI-KCCI Gawai-Kaamatan Exhibition and Business Event in Kuching. He highlighted that Gawai and Kaamatan have grown beyond harvest festivals into economic platforms that link business, culture and community across Borneo. The two-day exhibition features more than 50 exhibitors from Sabah and Sarawak showcasing handicrafts, agro-based products, food, and creative industries. SMEs from both states were also encouraged to tap into cross-regional opportunities, explore digital tech, and strengthen networks through business-matching sessions. Location: Kuching, Sarawak Details: Cross-Borneo economic cooperation formalised between Sabah and Sarawak ministries Source: DayakDaily What do you think? Will closer cooperation between Sabah and Sarawak boost Borneo's economy?

[image: 1781589903246-bbcon2026.jpg] BBCON 2026 is coming back to Kuching this November, with twice the size and a focus on real-world applications of AI, blockchain and digital tech. The Borneo Blockchain Conference 2026 (BBCON 2026) will take place on Nov 18-19 at voco Hotel Kuching, aiming to attract around 1,500 delegates — up from 600 in its debut last year. Organised by the Kuching Blockchain Technology Association (KBTA), this year’s conference shifts from conceptual discussions to practical implementation. KBTA president Gan Beng Yoke said blockchain is increasingly being recognised for improving transparency, security and trust across banking, healthcare, public services, supply chains and digital identity. Key highlights include keynote presentations, panel discussions, technical sharing sessions, networking opportunities, and startup-investor matching programmes. UiTM Sarawak rector Prof Dr Firdaus Abdullah said the university’s participation will add a strong academic component through research presentations and innovation showcases, aligning with Sarawak’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030. Location: voco Hotel, Kuching Date: 18-19 November 2026 Details: Panel discussions, startup pitching, networking, research showcases Source: DayakDaily Interested in blockchain or AI? Drop your thoughts below

Tbh when I first went to Sarawak Cultural Village, I thought it'd be one of those "for tourists only" places... Turns out it's way bigger than I expected — 17 acres of actual living museum, not just display. Every traditional house has real people inside doing crafts, cooking traditional food, telling their stories. Spent the whole afternoon there and still didn't cover everything. Here's what I think are the best bits [image: 1780726693527-resized_scv_bridge.jpg] Source: Thomas Quine (Wikimedia Commons) The Orang Ulu longhouse is the most photogenic spot. High ceilings covered in beadwork and murals, super vibrant colours. Someone was playing traditional instruments when I walked in — the atmosphere was genuinely something else. [image: 1780726694256-resized_scv_deck.jpg] Source: Thomas Quine (Wikimedia Commons) The bamboo walkway outside the Iban longhouse is another great photo spot. That bamboo bridge? Almost every shot looks like it could be a cover photo. [image: 1780726694918-resized_scv_lamps.jpg] Source: Thomas Quine (Wikimedia Commons) The handicrafts around the village are really well made — bamboo lampshades, beadwork, wood carvings. Good quality souvenir material. [image: 1780726696248-resized_scv_hall.jpg] Source: Thomas Quine (Wikimedia Commons) The stone carvings outside the Bidayuh longhouse caught my eye too. Spent a good 10 minutes just looking at the patterns. [image: 1780726696630-resized_scv_carvings.jpg] Source: Thomas Quine (Wikimedia Commons) Don't miss the cultural performances — twice daily at 11:30am and 4pm. Traditional dance, music, and costumes. The energy live is something you can't capture on a phone. Practical Info ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Address: Pantai Damai, Santubong, Kuching (about 35 mins from city centre) Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm (last entry 4:00pm) Tickets: Malaysian - Adult RM95 / Child RM65 Non-Malaysian - Adult RM135 / Child RM85 (Cheaper online, above is walk-in price) ️ Combo with lunch available: RM138 (Malaysian adult) Real Reviews ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ "Very educational and interesting to learn about the different ethnic groups in Sarawak... the cultural dance performance is a must-watch!" — Azreen S. (Google Maps) "The staff are very friendly and explain their culture in each house. The bamboo bridge area was the highlight for me, really beautiful scenery." — Wei Ling C. (Google Maps) "Best place to bring overseas visitors. You can get a good overview of Sarawak's main ethnic groups in half a day. Just bring water, there's a lot of walking." — Kenji T. (TripAdvisor) RM95 might feel steep for locals, but if you've got friends visiting Kuching, this is the kind of place everyone should experience at least once. I've been three times and noticed something new each visit. Have you been? Worth it or not? Drop your thoughts below

If I had to design a Kuching day for a visitor who keeps asking, “Where do we actually meet Sarawak?”, I would drive towards Santubong before the heat builds and use Sarawak Cultural Village as the day's cultural spine. It compresses a huge geography into one walk, but the details are worth more than the slogan. [image: 1780538578622-scv_main.jpg] SCV entrance The village was created as a living-museum project in 1990, and its seven house types explain why “Sarawak culture” is plural. A raised Iban longhouse, a Bidayuh headhouse, an Orang Ulu house, a Melanau tall house and the smaller Penan, Malay and Chinese structures make climate and community visible in wood, height and shared space. That is the first story a traveller can physically read before hearing a performance. [image: 1780538589481-scv_panoramio-resized.jpg] Panoramic view of the village The second story is what changed when a living tradition became a visitor route. Guides and craft demonstrations keep the place from being empty scenery, while the lake, paths and scheduled stage show make the experience easy to follow. It is excellent for a first orientation, children and visitors with limited time; it is less satisfying for anyone who wants to observe ordinary village life without a timetable. [image: 1780538589985-scv_village11.jpg] Traditional architecture inside the village I would arrive around opening, spend the first stretch inside the houses, and choose one show rather than designing the day around both. The site is about 35 km from Kuching and current visitor information lists 9:00am–5:00pm, with shows at 11:30am and 4:00pm. Allow at least three hours, wear shoes for uneven paths and keep water handy. Ticket prices, lunch packages and show arrangements can change, so confirm the live booking page before paying. [image: 1780538590304-scv_cultural2-resized.jpg] Cultural dance performance For international visitors, the practical trade-off is simple: one paid, organised stop gives a broad cultural frame, but it cannot replace a community-led trip into the interior. Pair it with Damai beach or a Santubong viewpoint if you want a full day; if your interest is only a stage performance, arrive for the show and spend the rest of the day elsewhere. [image: 1780538590861-scv_cultural1-resized.jpg] Traditional handicrafts on display I like this version of the stop because it makes a complicated region approachable without pretending the shortcut is the whole journey. What would make you stay longer: a house explanation, a craft session or the music?

Sibu is just RM3 million away from becoming Sarawak’s next city — its council reserves have more than doubled since 2019. Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting announced today that the town’s financial reserves have grown to RM47 million, up sharply from RM19 million when he took office in 2019. The threshold for city status is RM50 million. [image: 1779861795348-sibu-city-status.jpg] SMC chairman Clarence Ting speaking at a press conference after launching the WAK Sibu Festival 2026 calendar at Wisma Sanyan on May 26. The second requirement — a population of 300,000 — is also being gradually met as Sibu sees demographic shifts and steady growth. “When I became chairman in 2019, people often asked why Miri could be upgraded to a city but not Sibu. After reviewing the criteria, we were only short of two main requirements,” Ting said. Sibu, long seen as a predominantly Chinese-majority town, is now becoming increasingly diverse, with a growing Iban population and broader ethnic representation. Location: Sibu, Sarawak Reserves: RM47M (up from RM19M in 2019) Target: RM50M reserves + 300,000 population Source: DayakDaily What do you think — will Sibu finally get city status this year?

"How can a ticket to go back to my hometown for Gawai cost up to RM1,000? Isn't Borneo also part of Malaysia?" Sarawakian singer and influencer Miss Alvy took to Threads today to call out what she describes as "unreasonable" flight prices ahead of the Gawai Dayak celebration. She highlighted that a return ticket from Peninsular Malaysia to Borneo can cost up to RM1,000 — enough, she said, to travel overseas. Many netizens from Sabah and Sarawak chimed in, sharing their own horror stories of festive season airfares, with some saying return tickets can hit RM1,900. According to Miss Alvy, many East Malaysians have been forced to delay returning home for years because of the high ticket prices. Some families can only reunite during major holidays, while others simply cannot afford it at all. The post has reignited the long-standing debate about the high cost of air connectivity between Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia, especially during festive seasons like Gawai and Hari Raya. Location: Kuching / Sarawak When: May 26, 2026 [image: 1779775360441-miss-alvy-airfare.jpg] Miss Alvy. Photo credit: Facebook / DayakDaily Source: DayakDaily What do you think?

今日古晋水岸引擎轰鸣声震天 — 来自马来西亚、汶莱及印尼的 600 辆重型机车骑士齐聚一堂，参与第 24 届 Borneo Island International Big Bike Festival (BIBBF) 2026。 车队今早从古晋水岸 (Kuching Waterfront) 浩浩荡荡出发，前往 Kampung Lot Bako 进行社区交流活动。活动由 Borneo Island Big Bikers (BIBB) 砂拉越分会主办，参与人数达 1,225 人。 地点： 古晋水岸 → Kampung Bako，砂拉越 详情： 600 辆重型机车参与巡游 参与者来自砂拉越、沙巴、纳闽、汶莱及印尼 社区活动：传统运动 + 渔村海鲜午餐 首日看点：Battle of the Bands 乐队比赛 晚宴邀来本地及西马歌手献唱 明日续办 Idol BIBBF 歌唱选拔赛 BIBB 砂主席 Ramlee Tuah 表示，邻国骑士对砂拉越的路况赞不绝口，直呼道路保养得很好，骑行体验非常满意。 这项年度盛事由 5 个 Borneo 骑士俱乐部轮流主办：PEMODA（汶莱）、BIBB（砂拉越）、IMBI（印尼）、SBBA（沙巴）及 LA RIDERS（纳闽）。明年将移师纳闽，2028 年回到汶莱，如此轮流至 2031 年再返砂拉越。 新闻来源： https://dayakdaily.com/600-riders-from-msia-brunei-indonesia-roar-through-kuching-for-borneo-island-intl-big-bike-festival/ 你看到车队经过了吗？今天 Kampung Bako 有海鲜大餐等你！