KUCHING: What began as a music and cultural exchange in the Sarawak capital has grown into a celebration of international friendship, youth empowerment, and an ongoing commitment to building a better future for the state.
The Friends in Concert 2025, held at SJK (C) Chung Hua Middle School No. 3, brought together performers from Thailand, Singapore and Japan, highlighting Sarawak’s growing reputation as a hub for cultural diplomacy and artistic excellence.
Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, made the remark while commending the remarkable talent of local musicians in the state.
“We had guests from Thailand last year, and they’ve returned. This time, we also welcomed representatives from Singapore.
“It shows that our ties are not just lasting but growing stronger,” he said.
Amid the evening’s performances, Dr Sim offered a deeply personal reflection, recounting his decision to leave a lucrative career in Melbourne as a cardiologist to return home in 1998 – driven by a vision to build Sarawak’s first heart centre.
“My salary here was only RM3,130 per month, compared to more than two million dollars in Australia, but I believed in creating something bigger than myself,” he said.
Today, more than 245,000 Sarawakians have benefited from the centre, which ranks among the top 100 in the Asia-Pacific region – a milestone Dr Sim proudly called “a story born from the jungles of Borneo”.
He used the occasion to urge young Sarawakians to pursue global excellence without losing sight of their roots.
“This isn’t about money. It’s about nurturing a generation that can compete internationally while remaining connected to their homeland,” he said.
The concert also served as a powerful reminder that building a nation takes more than policies and programmes – it takes unity, culture and people-driven collaboration.
“Nation-building is not solely the responsibility of government. It is a shared duty between leaders and citizens,” Dr Sim added.
