In the vibrant tapestry of Malaysia’s diverse cultural heritage lies a rich and often overlooked facet: its indigenous roots – particularly that of the East. For years, its picturesque landscapes and vibrant culture were unnoticed by the creative industry, while its cousin, West Malaysia, basked in the limelight. But little did they know, East Malaysia has held untapped potential that captivates the industry’s attention.
This region, comprising the states of Sabah and Sarawak, is blessed with an abundance of creatives – musicians, entertainers and models alike. In order to spark a collective consciousness among Malaysians, these creatives have been keeping their cultural traditions alive by showcasing their unique heritage through their voice and talents on Instagram.
From Alena Murang to Francisca Luhong, here are a few East Malaysian creatives for you to check out and follow on the social media platform to discover their rich culture.
Alena Murang
Apart from playing the sape instrument, Alena Murang is also a singer-songwriter and visual artist who is deeply passionate about preserving the Kelabit and Kenyah languages of the Dayak tribe in Borneo. She established herself as the first female to professionally perform and teach the sape.
Wenanita Angang
Prior to her reign as Miss World Malaysia 2022, Wenanita Angang won the title of Unduk Ngadau Kuala Penyu, a cultural pageant in 2018, as well as Miss Tourism and Culture Universe. Behind the glamour, she’s also a data scientist and has been devoted to raising awareness on autism through her ‘Making Sense Malaysia’ campaign.
Belle Sisoski
Besides being a DJ, Belle Sisoski is also a producer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She’s known for combining the ambiance of ethnic instruments, cinematic music and EDM all in a track. Through her artistry, she aims to preserve traditional ethnic instruments and bring awareness to the cultures of the Sarawakian people.
Larissa Ping
Former beauty queen Larissa Ping was crowned Miss World Malaysia 2018 when she was just 19 years old, a victory which brought her to Sanya, China where she represented Malaysia at the global pageant and brought pride to Sarawak and Malaysia.
Alvy Joanna
Famed as a TikToker turned actor, Alvy Joanna is known for her various style, travelling, and lifestyle videos on her social media. Coming from a Bidayuh and Bisaya-Chinese background, she’s also the founder of Plummp, a vegan, cruelty-free skincare brand that she has been quietly building up over the past years.
Francisca Luhong
Francisca Luhong, the former Miss Universe Malaysia 2020, made history as the first Dayak woman from Malaysia to win the pageant title. Born into a culturally diverse indigenous family – an Orang Ulu Kayan-Kenyah father and an Iban mother – she saw this as both a huge responsibility as well as hope for many women with a similar background.
Velvet Aduk
Velvet Aduk became a finalist in the Malaysian reality TV singing competition, Akademi Fantasia 4, in 2006 and has been a singer-songwriter ever since. With her viral hit Sumandak Sabah, her distinctive fusion of contemporary rhythms with traditional Bornean sounds has captivated audiences worldwide.
Weena Marcus
Host, model and former Miss Malaysia Tourism 2009/2010, Weena Marcus, is big on sharing her cultural heritage on the internet. As a proud Sabahan, she always loved sharing about her hometown. Just last year, she documented herself teaching the Sumazau dance to her Western Malaysian friends on Instagram.
Featured image: @alenamurang on Instagram