Premier: Translation a strategic driver of Sarawak's development
KUCHING (Aug 19): Translation should not be seen solely as a communication tool, but as a strategic driver of the state's development, said Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He emphasised that investment in professional translator training and linguistic technologies must be considered part of the intellectual infrastructure necessary for Sarawak to achieve its greater national and international aspirations.
'Translation plays a role not only in bridging languages but also in strengthening cooperation with foreign investors and widening access to quality training and resources,' he said in a speech delivered on his behalf by Deputy Minister of Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Mohammad Razi Sitam.
Mohammad Razi was officiating the 20th International Conference on Translation (PPA20) at the Riverside Majestic Hotel here today.
The three-day conference, taking place from Aug 12-21 is hosted by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) in collaboration with the Malaysian Translators Association, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), and the Malaysian Institute of Translation and Books (ITBM).
Abang Johari also stressed that in an era of fast-paced globalisation, translation serves as a bridge between civilisations, a preserver of cultural heritage, and an enabler of Sarawak's digital and creative economy.
'With Sarawak's rich linguistic and cultural diversity, translation provides us an opportunity to mainstream our unique identity on the world stage in ways that can be globally understood,' he said.
He highlighted the Sarawak government's ongoing collaborations with local institutions and researchers to document and preserve ethnic languages, ensuring that this heritage is not lost to modernisation.
Abang Johari also noted that translation will soon play a bigger role in Sarawak's connectivity sector, particularly with the upcoming launch of the regional airline, AirBorneo, which will link Sarawak with Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Hong Kong in phases.
'High-quality translation will be crucial in delivering world-class services and fostering cross-cultural diplomacy for passengers from diverse backgrounds,' he added.
Meanwhile, Unimas vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit said the conference's theme, 'Preserving Heritage through Translation', is timely given Sarawak's wealth of languages and dialects.
He emphasised that translation should be more than a mere transfer of meaning and instead serve as a bridge of knowledge, a connector of civilisations, and a safeguard for linguistic heritage.
To underline the global significance, Ahmad Hata noted that PPA20 has drawn participants from Malaysia, China, Singapore, Norway, Italy, Korea, Indonesia, and Brunei Darussalam, making it one of the most diverse editions of the biennial conference.
The programme features four policy paper presentations, five plenary sessions by cultural translation experts, a forum involving language deans from public university, and representatives from the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf, the Malaysian Sign Language Interpreters Association, and Wikimedia Malaysia. In total, 64 academic papers will be presented.
'This wide-ranging programme ensures that the conference not only advances scholarly debate but also strengthens the links between academia, government, and industry,' said Ahmad Hata.
Also present at the event were Unimas Board of Directors chairman Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Sulong Matjeraie, DBP director-general Dr Hazami Jahari, ITBM chief executive officer Sakri Abdullah, and Malaysian Translators Association president Dr Hasuria Che Omar. Abang Johari Tun Openg development multilingual translation
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Premier: Translation a strategic driver of Sarawak's development
(From left) Ahmad Hata, Mohammad Razi, Sulong and Dr Hazami engage in a conversation while browsing books at an exhibition booth during the PPA20. – Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (Aug 19): Translation should not be seen solely as a communication tool, but as a strategic driver of the state's development, said Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. He emphasised that investment in professional translator training and linguistic technologies must be considered part of the intellectual infrastructure necessary for Sarawak to achieve its greater national and international aspirations. 'Translation plays a role not only in bridging languages but also in strengthening cooperation with foreign investors and widening access to quality training and resources,' he said in a speech delivered on his behalf by Deputy Minister of Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Mohammad Razi Sitam. Mohammad Razi was officiating the 20th International Conference on Translation (PPA20) at the Riverside Majestic Hotel here today. The three-day conference, taking place from Aug 12-21 is hosted by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) in collaboration with the Malaysian Translators Association, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), and the Malaysian Institute of Translation and Books (ITBM). Abang Johari also stressed that in an era of fast-paced globalisation, translation serves as a bridge between civilisations, a preserver of cultural heritage, and an enabler of Sarawak's digital and creative economy. 'With Sarawak's rich linguistic and cultural diversity, translation provides us an opportunity to mainstream our unique identity on the world stage in ways that can be globally understood,' he said. He highlighted the Sarawak government's ongoing collaborations with local institutions and researchers to document and preserve ethnic languages, ensuring that this heritage is not lost to modernisation. Abang Johari also noted that translation will soon play a bigger role in Sarawak's connectivity sector, particularly with the upcoming launch of the regional airline, AirBorneo, which will link Sarawak with Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Hong Kong in phases. 'High-quality translation will be crucial in delivering world-class services and fostering cross-cultural diplomacy for passengers from diverse backgrounds,' he added. Meanwhile, Unimas vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit said the conference's theme, 'Preserving Heritage through Translation', is timely given Sarawak's wealth of languages and dialects. He emphasised that translation should be more than a mere transfer of meaning and instead serve as a bridge of knowledge, a connector of civilisations, and a safeguard for linguistic heritage. To underline the global significance, Ahmad Hata noted that PPA20 has drawn participants from Malaysia, China, Singapore, Norway, Italy, Korea, Indonesia, and Brunei Darussalam, making it one of the most diverse editions of the biennial conference. The programme features four policy paper presentations, five plenary sessions by cultural translation experts, a forum involving language deans from public university, and representatives from the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf, the Malaysian Sign Language Interpreters Association, and Wikimedia Malaysia. In total, 64 academic papers will be presented. 'This wide-ranging programme ensures that the conference not only advances scholarly debate but also strengthens the links between academia, government, and industry,' said Ahmad Hata. Also present at the event were Unimas Board of Directors chairman Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Sulong Matjeraie, DBP director-general Dr Hazami Jahari, ITBM chief executive officer Sakri Abdullah, and Malaysian Translators Association president Dr Hasuria Che Omar. Abang Johari Tun Openg development multilingual translation
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