By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, April 26: The iconic Kuching White Cat Garden has been illuminated tonight in conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, MBKS deputy mayor Hilmy Othman, and other councillors were present during the light-up ceremony held at the Kuching White Cat Garden on Jalan Padungan.
“Rain or shine, Covid-19 or no Covid-19, we are here to decorate and light up the famous Kuching White Cat Garden for every festive season.
“This is the spirit of Kuching, the City of Unity, and we have all the councillors of various races coming together to keep this tradition alive.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Sarawak, particularly the people of Kuching, for their efforts over the last two years in combating Covid-19 and for their solidarity as everyone plays their part, which is why we have a high vaccination rate and one of the lowest number of Covid-19 deaths in the country during this period,” said Dr Sim.
He continued by saying that this is something that all Sarawakians should be extremely proud of.
“Now that we’re in the endemic phase, I’m very happy that this Raya, after two years of ‘duduk rumah’ (staying home), we can come together again to celebrate, such as hosting and attending Raya open houses, but don’t forget that the Covid-19 is still present,” he said.
Dr Sim also reminded the public to celebrate the festival responsibly.
“Make sure your vaccination status is up to date, and for those who are eligible for a booster dose, please go for it.
“Check to see if your children are eligible for the booster shot as well.
“When hosting Raya open houses, please ensure that your house has good ventilation, windows are open, standard hygiene practices such as hand-washing are followed, and wear your face mask when not eating,” he added.
Meanwhile, Wee stated that he is proud to be the mayor of MBKS, noting that every year, all councillors of different races come together to celebrate the various festivals.
“I hope everyone will continue to appreciate Kuching’s multiracial society,” said Wee. — DayakDaily
