By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 20: The Borderland Music Festival is still on despite the ongoing haze, with cancellation only an option if the situation worsens.
Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the ministry and organisers were hoping the haze would improve by the time the festival and other major events scheduled for the coming months take place.
“We can only hope, together with the organisers, that all the events we are organising from now until the end of the year, whether Borneo Jazz Festival, Borderland Festival, the Regatta, the International Dragon Boat, and many others, including WAK, will not be affected by the haze.
“The haze can clear in just one day. The moment the wind changes direction, the whole haze will be gone. It’s just like that. So we do hope it will be that way when those events take place,” he said during a press conference after launching the WAK Festival 2026 Calendar Programme at The Spring Shopping Mall here today.
Abdul Karim further said contingency measures were already being considered should the haze worsen.
“We are very prepared just in case the situation suddenly worsens. If we have to cancel those events, we’ll cancel, but I do hope that we do not have to reach that kind of situation,” he added.
Borderland Music Festival is among the outdoor events scheduled in September that could be affected if the haze persists.
Asked whether outdoor events could instead be moved indoors to reduce the impact of the haze, Abdul Karim said many events supported by the ministry were already held indoors.
“A lot of those events that we are supporting are being held indoors actually, whether it’s in Kuching or in other parts. So, it does not really have much effect.
“The conferences that we are having are all being held indoors,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that outdoor events such as the Regatta and International Dragon Boat would remain vulnerable to air quality conditions.
“We can only pray and hope,” he said.
On whether the haze was affecting tourism in Sarawak, Abdul Karim acknowledged that it could have an impact but hoped it would not significantly affect the State’s tourism sector.
“I hope not because, like what I mentioned just now, this problem is just temporary. I believe by the end of the month, or by next month, it will be clear once the wind changes direction,” he said.
He likened the haze situation to having a neighbour playing loud music, saying Sarawak could only ask its neighbour to lower the “volume”.
“Likewise, on a bigger scale, when your neighbour, who is also very friendly to you, the problem comes from them. Passing through the wind, bringing it here. We have to bear with it, and we do hope that they will take care of that problem,” he said.
Abdul Karim said the haze appeared to be a yearly problem occurring during certain dry months, when conditions were favourable for land clearing and planting.
He also hoped the issue could be addressed through discussions at a higher level between Malaysia and Indonesia. — DayakDaily
