KOTA MARUDU, Sept 7, 2026 — Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick has urged ethnic and cultural associations in the state to make full use of artificial intelligence (AI) and social media to preserve and document the identity of Sabah’s indigenous communities.

Ewon, who is also Sabah Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister, said efforts to safeguard indigenous languages, customs and cultural heritage should no longer rely solely on printed materials such as books and dictionaries.

Instead, he said, new digital approaches were needed to reach younger generations.

“Preservation methods need to be diversified through digital approaches that are closer to today’s generation.

“We can use AI and social media to develop digital dictionaries and produce relevant content on our languages, customs and cultures that is more accessible, particularly to young people,” he said.

Ewon was speaking at the opening of the Mongompok Batas programme organised by the United Sabah Tindal Organisation (USTO) at the Kampung Tagaroh Open Field here recently.

He also encouraged ethnic associations to collaborate with one another to produce more digital content highlighting the unique identities of Sabah’s indigenous communities and ensuring that their languages and heritage are not lost over time.

“We must adopt new approaches in developing our communities and ensuring that our identity continues to be preserved. Who else will promote our languages, customs and culture if not us?” he said.

At the same time, Ewon said efforts to preserve indigenous identity must go hand in hand with economic development and entrepreneurship.

He said programmes organised by ethnic associations could be strengthened by incorporating entrepreneurship activities, including expos and village markets, in collaboration with the Sabah Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Ministry (MINDET).

“We do not only want to defend and preserve our customary systems, identity and language, but at the same time, we want our communities to progress and become entrepreneurs,” he said.

Meanwhile, USTO president James Baga said the organisation was working on a trilingual dictionary covering the Tindal, Malay and English languages.

He said the dictionary would serve as a reference for younger generations to learn and better understand their mother tongue.

“I believe this dictionary will become a reference for our children in the future and help ensure that the Dusun Tindal language does not disappear over time.

“This is because studies have projected that many ethnic languages, particularly in Sabah, could face extinction within the next 50 years if continuous preservation efforts are not undertaken,” he said.

James said the concern was becoming more evident as fewer young people were speaking their mother tongue and increasingly using Malay or English, including when communicating at home.

USTO is also documenting Tindal customs and traditions, including marriage and engagement practices as well as other traditional practices, in book form for future reference.

“These are among our efforts to ensure that the language, customs and identity of the Tindal community are not lost and continue to be passed down to future generations,” he said.

Also present were Local Government Assistant Minister, Bandau assemblyman and USTO patron Datuk Dr Maijol Mahap, as well as leaders of ethnic associations and community leaders.