KUCHING: A social activist Peter John Jaban today called for licences to be issued to certified tuak brewers to ensure the quality of the fermented drinks is maintained.
He said it is also to regulate the process of fermenting the traditional drinks of the Dayak community and to accord it the respect it deserves.
"This will not only safeguard the quality and authenticity of the tuak but also support local brewers in showcasing their cultural heritage on a much broader scale," he said when responding to the just concluded three-day Borneo Tuak Festival held here.
"Some may argue that cultural heritage like tuak should remain untouched by modern commerce.
"Heritage is not meant to be preserved in a museum, it is meant to evolve.
"Tuak is not just a drink, it is a craft, and like all crafts, it deserves to be appreciated shared and commercialised in a way that uplifts the community," he added.
The festival was co-organised by Sago Group and the Culinary Heritage and Arts Society Sarawak (CHASS) and was supported by the state ministry of tourism, creative industry and performing arts.
A total of 80 booths were found at the festival that attracted over 10,000 people of all races, including foreigners and people of mixed background, including Muslims of mixed parentage.