KUCHING: Islamic Creativity And Innovation Festival (ICIF) 2025 serves as a platform to highlight the creativity and innovation of Sarawak's Muslim community.

Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Project Coordinator for the Regional Development Agency, DBKU and Islamic Affairs), Datuk Dr. Abdul Rahman Junaidi said that organising festivals like this encourages the community, especially the younger generation, to create and produce brilliant ideas for the future.

"For young Muslims in particular, works and innovations must be based on the Islamic framework.

"The ICIF serves to provide a space for the community, especially the youth, to come up with brilliant ideas to secure their future and ensure that Islam continues to be seen as beautiful through innovation and creativity," he said.

He said this in a press conference session during the ICIF 2025 programme at the Sarawak Islamic Information Centre (IIC) here on Wednesday.

According to him, this festival also provides an opportunity for artists and creators to establish relationships at the state level as well as with colleagues abroad, further empowering their work.

Meanwhile, Datuk Dr. Abdul Rahman stressed that the Sarawak Government always encourages the community, especially the youth and entrepreneurs in the field of innovation and creativity.

"The works produced can be a form of assurance for the future, apart from their main professions. This side talent can spark various ideas and help them in moving forward.

"This is the wish of the Sarawak Government which as a whole provides support and encouragement to this programme," he said.

At the same event, the inauguration of the Orchid Garden measuring 160 feet long and 35 feet wide at the center was also held, officiated by his wife, Datin Siti Shorgayah Ahmad Zaidin.

Also present were the President of the Sarawak Islamic Council, Datuk Misnu Taha, Mufti of Sarawak, Datu Kipli Yassin, Acting Chief Executive Officer of IIC, Tazudin Mokhtar, leaders of other faiths who were present and other guests of honour. -UKASnews