A penambang boat featuring Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad’s refreshed Pantun Series roof design cruises along the Sarawak River with the iconic Sarawak State Legislative Assembly building in the background.
KUCHING (July 21): Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad (BPHB) has refreshed the roof designs of 16 traditional penambang boats operating along the Sarawak River as part of its Bintulu Port Pantun Series in conjunction with Sarawak Day 2026.
According to a company statement, the initiative builds on last year’s campaign, which transformed the river boats into floating showcases of Malay pantun celebrating Sarawak’s heritage, unity and shared values.
This year’s edition features a new collection of pantun, giving the boats a refreshed appearance while promoting one of the Malay world’s most enduring literary traditions.
BPHB president and group chief executive officer Dato Ruslan Abdul Ghani said the initiative reflected the company’s belief that heritage should not only be preserved, but also experienced and shared by the community.
“Culture lives when it continues to connect with people. Through the Bintulu Port Pantun Series, we hope to bring heritage closer to everyday life by transforming these traditional boats into moving storytellers along the Sarawak River,” he said.
He added that the programme also supported penambang operators whose livelihoods depended on the river, while enhancing the appeal of their boats and contributing to the preservation of Kuching’s cultural landscape.
BPHB said the initiative strengthened its collaboration with Sarawak River penambang operators, who play an important role in preserving the state’s riverine heritage.
It noted that the Malay pantun, recognised by Unesco as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, represents generations of knowledge, wisdom and social values. The project aims to keep the tradition relevant, particularly among younger generations.
Meanwhile, BPHB general manager of Group Stakeholder Relations and Yayasan Bintulu Port chief executive officer Maslihah Tioh said the continuation of the series reflected the organisation’s commitment to responsible corporate citizenship.
“The Bintulu Port Pantun Series is more than a visual enhancement of traditional boats; it serves as a bridge connecting our history, communities and future generations,” she said.
The unveiling of the refreshed boat designs forms part of BPHB’s cultural corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts in conjunction with Sarawak Day 2026.