By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 6: There is no other place in Malaysia which celebrates the Mooncake or Mid-Autumn Festival, the second most important festival for the Chinese community, like Sarawak, where it is a multicultural affair.
Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah emphasised that Sarawak is an exemplary State when it comes to unity in diversity which is reflected in the colourful and lively Kuching Intercultural Mooncake Festival 2022 currently behind held at Carpenter Street and Ewe Hai Street until Sept 10.
“This is very good, I think up to this moment you won’t find such kind of multicultural festival being held like what we see tonight. Indeed, Kuching is an example of a place where solidarity is very ‘solid’.
“There is a good feeling when I walk down the bazaar. People walk side by side, sell (food and items) side by side, we rejoice together in this celebration. There is no animosity or polarisation, which is very important in our multicultural society,” she said during her visit to the festival tonight.
Fatimah was joined by Kuching Old Market Community Association chairman and festival organising chairman Kapitan Lim Chuan Chan and association member Sih Hua Tong, among others.
With various ethnic communities engaged and participating in both economic and cultural activities at the festival which amongst others featured a bazaar with 180 stalls spanning Carpenter Street and Ewe Hai Street, Fatimah emphasised that the festival contributes not only to enhancing unity but also the wellbeing of the people.
“This is very exemplary. In the past, it was mostly celebrated by the Chinese. But when it was conducted in a multicultural environment, we came to realise that it was well received by other communities.
“Such festival will help to contribute to enhancing and strengthening the unity of our diverse communities as well as promote greater understanding and respect for one another,” she pointed out.
She commended the organisers for successfully holding the festival which also received strong support from various sponsors.
“This is a Mooncake Festival like no other and we should continue to support it so that it becomes a symbol of Sarawak’s unity. This is our Sarawakian heritage,” she added. — DayakDaily
