PETALING JAYA, 27 May 2025 - As the celebrations of Pesta Kaamatan and Hari Gawai draw near, CelcomDigi Berhad (“CelcomDigi”) calls on Malaysians to #Semaikan Jalinan and to reconnect with our shared roots, cultural heritage and the people we hold dear. This year, CelcomDigi honours these festivities by embarking on a heartfelt journey to preserve a precious part of Borneo’s identities through Maya, an AI-powered language learning chatbot developed to help revive and teach native Bornean languages such as Iban and Dusun.
Developed in collaboration with Replyr.ai, Maya, the chatbot is designed to be a vital digital companion, enabling users to explore, learn and interact with their ancestral languages through accessible, tech-driven experiences. As a brand that connects over 20 million Malaysians, CelcomDigi believes that by combining technology innovation with connectivity to deepen the connection between people and their cultural roots may empower communities to rediscover, preserve and celebrate the heritage that makes them unique.
This initiative is depicted through CelcomDigi’s festive film, Maya, which follows the journey of a young Iban girl as she ventures through a whimsical, imagined version of Borneo in search of forgotten native dialects. Moved by her grandfather’s revelation that these ancestral languages are slowly disappearing, Maya sets out to ensure they are not only heard, but carried forward by the voices of today’s youth, preserving the culture and identity of her people alive for generations to come.
CelcomDigi’s Head of Brand and Marketing Services, Chan May Ling said, “We believe that language is more than communication. It is central to our culture, shaping who we are and keeping us connected to our roots. Realising that many of these languages may soon disappear as younger generations embrace more commonly used languages, we were inspired to create Maya, the chatbot. It is our way of helping these beautiful languages thrive, so they can be learned and spoken by future generations.”
Bringing #SemaikanJalinan to Life
Beyond the film, CelcomDigi extended its initiative to on-ground community engagement, Misi Kereta Api, with Kupi Kupi FM to connect with local communities in Sabah and Sarawak. Over the course of a week, the CelcomDigi and Kupi Kupi FRM teams engaged festive goers traveling home for Pesta Kaamatan and Hari Gawai. Journeying by train from Kota Kinabalu to Beaufort in Sabah and from Kuching to Durin all the way to a traditional longhouse in Sarawak, the teams connected with local games and storytelling – learning the culture, native languages and exploring what #Semaikan Jalinan means to them, deepening the spirit of connection, heritage, and cultural appreciation.
Over the past years, CelcomDigi’s festive films have consistently highlighted the rich cultural heritage of East Malaysia, from traditional practices to native languages, and how technology and innovation help to bridge the past and future. This initiative reflects CelcomDigi’s broader brand ambition to connect Malaysians not just through networks but through shared identity and cultural continuity.
Let’s celebrate with exclusive Pesta Kaamatan and Hari Gawai offers
In celebration of the harvest festival, all CelcomDigi customers can also enjoy a range of exciting deals:
CelcomDigi wishes all Malaysians who are celebrating Pesta Kaamatan and Hari Gawai a “Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Kaamatan” and “Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai”.
To watch the full video and try out Maya, the chatbot, visit CelcomDigi official YouTube page: https://youtu.be/zP-xzDXiaC4?feature=shared
For more information on CelcomDigi, visit www.celcomdigi.com
