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KUCHING, June 28: This year will mark the return of the seventh edition of the Belaga Regatta Festival, which will be held from Aug 3 to 6 at the Sungai Belaga Waterfront.
According to Belaga district officer and 2023 Belaga Regatta Festival chairperson Bidah Lujah, the Belaga Regatta Festival will feature water sports such as ‘lumba perahu kayuh’ (paddle boat race) and speedboat race.
“So, in addition to the two river activities, we have land activities such as the cultural stage, where we have cultural performances and competitions such as the ‘sape’ competition, ‘kesut’ competition, ‘suwey’ competition, ‘Ngajat Lasan’, and others, all of which we are proud to showcase.
“In addition, we diversify the event with contemporary activities like karaoke and Jamilah dance competitions. We also bring in guest artists. Consequently, this is how the programme is filled,” Bidah said today at the 2023 Belaga Regatta Festival press conference held at the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication (MUT) Sarawak office here.
She continued by stating that a variety of activities are planned for the duration of the event, which will last from morning until night.
“Belaga hasn’t had a festival in a long time. In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, this festival will be held to enliven the town of Belaga,” she explained, adding that the last Belaga Regatta Festival was in 2018.
The 2023 Belaga Regatta Festival will be inaugurated on Aug 5 by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The highlight of the festival will be the boat-rowing competition, which will feature 30 rowers per boat, as well as the coronation of ‘Lakin Unyei’ (King of the River). The ‘King of the River’ will also receive a prize award of RM20,000.
The boat-rowing competition is still open to the public.
In addition, MUT Sarawak Deputy Minister Datuk Liwan Lagang emphasised that this year’s Belaga Regatta Festival will be larger than all previous events.
Penghulu Abu Talib noted that the speedboat race will include 11 categories and that participants from outside Belaga, particularly from Brunei, are invited to participate.
Liwan, who is also Belaga assemblyman, handed over a cheque of RM385,000 to the organising committee of the 2023 Belaga Regatta Festival during their courtesy visit on Liwan at his office today. — DayakDaily
