By Ling Hui & Chris Bishop
KUCHING, Feb 26: Come and enjoy Sarawak’s ‘mee kolok’, ‘ayam pansoh’, ‘laksa’, ‘kek lapis’ and many more local delicacies which may not be available elsewhere, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He was extending his invitation to visitors from outside Sarawak, especially from Peninsular Malaysia, to see and feel the uniqueness of Sarawak, which is rich in culture, language, race, food diversity, flora, and fauna.
Sarawak, he added, is almost as big as Peninsular Malaysia, which consists of 12 states, while Kapit, for example, is nearly as big as the state of Pahang.
Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak and the host of Citrawarna Keluarga Malaysia 2022 this week, was also recently named the Creative City of Gastronomy due to it being a food hub.
“Kuching may as well also be given the title of a ‘City of Culture’ with the completion of the Borneo Cultural Museum, the largest cultural museum in the country which will be open to the public soon,” said Abang Johari.
To the north of Sarawak, he said, Miri — a resort city located by the sea — is the gateway to one of the largest cave complexes in the world, the Mulu Caves, which is a UNESCO world heritage site.
The Niah Caves, which is nearby, is one of the oldest prehistoric settlements in the region where archaeologists have found human fossils over 60,000 years old.
In addition, he said Sarawak has hydro dam lakes that will be developed in an organised manner through an authority to attract tourists from inside and outside Sarawak.
“Indeed, Sarawak has many attractions that need to be polished and promoted to the outside world to intensify the tourism industry in the State.
“Thanks to the federal government for continuing to retain Dato Sri Nancy Shukri as the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, which I am confident, as a Sarawakian, can help Sarawak improve its tourism industry,” said Abang Johari during the launching of the Citrawarna festival at Kuching Waterfront here tonight.
Among other dignitaries present were Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Toh Puan Ragad Kurdi Taib, Nancy, and Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. — DayakDaily
