KUALA LUMPUR: The Sarawak Council for Native Customs & Traditions (Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak, MAIS) organised the Adat Bidayuh 1994 Empowerment Programme with the Bidayuh Community in Peninsular Malaysia on 12 September 2026 at Hotel Melia, Kuala Lumpur, in collaboration with the Persatuan Kebangsaan Dayak Bidayuh Klang Valley Branch.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, MAIS said the programme involved about 50 participants from the Bidayuh community residing in Peninsular Malaysia, and was officiated by MAIS Council Head Datu Dr Neilson Ilan Mersat.

Datu Dr Neilson Ilan said the programme was one of MAIS's initiatives to reach out to and strengthen ties with the Bidayuh diaspora living outside Sarawak.

He said the presence of a Bidayuh community in Peninsular Malaysia reflected the ongoing growth of the Bidayuh diaspora, which continues to maintain ties with its origins, identity and cultural heritage despite being far from Sarawak.

He added that the programme also aimed to introduce and strengthen the Peninsular Malaysia-based Bidayuh community's understanding of Adat Bidayuh 1994, while gathering their views, experiences and feedback on the practice of customary law within the context of Bidayuh communities living outside Sarawak.

He said such outreach programmes would be continued by MAIS to ensure that ethnic communities outside Sarawak remain updated on efforts to codify and review native customary laws in Sarawak, particularly for the Bidayuh community, so that native customs continue to be practised and remain relevant in the modern era.

Also present were Dato' Westmoreland Edward Palon, Director of the Centre for Political Studies and Economic Diplomacy, Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia; Ambassador Gloria Corina Peter Tiwet, Director of the Centre for Language and Cultural Diplomacy, Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia; a representative of the MAIS Council Secretary; Connie Christopher Kesa, Chairperson of the Persatuan Kebangsaan Dayak Bidayuh Klang Valley Branch; John Riba Marin, Head of the Bidayuh Community for Serian Division, Temenggong Henry Bujang Sendan and Head of the Bidayuh Community for Kuching Division, Temenggong Atok Derop, along with senior officers of MAIS. –UKASnews