By Tedong Rantayy
MIRI, April 29: In a bid to preserve traditional culinary practices and enhance tourism, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, has put forward a proposal for a gastronomy festival within the Lambir constituency.
Speaking at a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering held at Kampung Beraya Batu 1 on Monday night (Apr 28), he envisions the event as a means to unite surrounding regions, highlighting its accessibility not just for local visitors from Bintulu and Miri, but also for tourists from Brunei and Sabah.
The proposed festival is not merely a celebration of food, but a vital step in ensuring that the traditions tied to local gastronomy are preserved for future generations, he said.
“We want to maintain our traditions, particularly when it comes to food,” Abdul Karim emphasised, indicating his intent to allocate funding through the ministry to facilitate this initiative.
Abdul Karim is keen to see innovative and engaging activities implemented for festival organisers to consider.
“I am particularly interested in what offerings are available in the Lambir area,” he remarked, underscoring the unique characteristics of the locality that could contribute to the success of the festival.
The timing for such an event appears auspicious, especially following UNESCO’s recent designation of Niah Cave as a World Heritage Site, a rare accolade shared only with Mulu Cave in Sarawak.
Abdul Karim noted the geographical significance of Niah Cave, which lies between Bekenu and Lambir, further bolstering the rationale for developing the area into a tourism hotspot.
He expressed optimism about the potential for broader community benefits stemming from such development, stating, “When change occurs, we ought not to leave our people behind; we want them to reap the rewards of tourism.
He also highlighted the need for local populations to engage with and capitalise on burgeoning tourism opportunities.
Amid these developments, Abdul Karim reaffirmed his commitment to fostering community cohesion and harmonious living, which he believes is essential for the successful execution of programmes like the gastronomy festival.
In addition, the minister revealed that construction is underway for 18 mini sports complexes across the State, reflecting a broader commitment to regional development.
Also present was Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak, Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat. — DayakDaily
