BELAGA: The iRandau 2025 International Symposium held at Kampung Lebu’ Kulit, Sungai Asap, Belaga, successfully concluded on Friday after drawing more than 250 participants from within and outside Malaysia.

Organised under the theme “Bridging Gaps, Fostering Sustainability,” the annual symposium served as a platform to promote discourse on social sciences, economy, management, and technology, while highlighting the preservation of the traditions and heritage of the Orang Ulu community.

It also emphasised youth empowerment and academic collaboration across borders.

Deputy Minister for Digital, Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, said Randau tradition is not only a cultural practice preserved in longhouses but also a distinctive feature of Sarawak’s identity that can be elevated as a tourism attraction.

“Randau is not just about preserving traditional heritage, it is also a bridge that connects diverse cultures and drives global development,” he said.

He added that the government remains committed to ensuring that digital development in rural areas of Sarawak goes beyond infrastructure, focusing equally on improving the well-being of the people.

“iRandau 2025 demonstrates that even rural communities have the potential to explore entrepreneurship, creativity, and leadership,” he said during the symposium’s closing ceremony in Kampung Lebu’ Kulit.

First introduced in 2019, the symposium is organised by the Faculty of Humanities, Management and Science (FKPS), Universiti Putra Malaysia Sarawak (UPMS) and has since evolved into a recognised academic platform for knowledge exchange and community-based research in Borneo.

The event received strategic support from the Konsortium Universiti Universitas Borneo (KUUB), Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS), Department of Information, Youth Advancement Centre, and Business Events Sarawak.

Also present were Member of the Dewan Negara, Senator Micheal Mujah Lihan, Murum Assemblyman, Kennedy Chukpai Ugon, UPMS Director, Prof. Dr. Shahrul Razid Sarbini, Director of the Youth Advancement Centre (Pusat Belia Antarabangsa), Dr. Mohamed Maliki Mohamed Rapiee, and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews

Date of Input: 08/10/2025 | Updated: 08/10/2025 | lanz