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By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, June 28: The tender and draw processes for food and drink stalls and trade and funfair booths for Kuching Food Festival 2023 are done in a transparent manner, says Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng.
Wee explained that tender bids for the double food stalls, drink stalls, and trade and funfair booths, went to the highest bidders.
He also explained that a Kuala Lumpur-based company joining the food festival is owned by a Sarawakian.
“There is no issue on this company joining the festival, unlike what was speculated on a social media post,” he told reporters at a press conference after receiving a mock cheque from STM Lottery Sdn Bhd for Kuching Got Talent 2023 at the MBKS Complex here today.
Wee appealed to the public, including politicians and representatives of the people, to treat Kuching Food Festival as a product that benefits Sarawak and the country as the festival has been in existence for 33 years and not only attracts locals but foreign visitors and their participation.
“The government and the council invested so much in manpower, in setting it up and ideas to make it better every year, not in terms of only money that you think that the government is subsidising but all the hard work and the sweat that they went through,” he said.
Wee said MBKS works hard to make the festival a success for the love of Sarawak and to groom young entrepreneurs here.
He also said they got support from the government as the festival is not a commercial enterprise.
“That is why we are still holding to it, to protect and groom our young people in coming out (as entrepreneurs). MBKS gives them the opportunity, especially after two years of the (Covid-19) pandemic,” he added.
Wee reminded politicians not to meddle in the festival, but to do their duty to serve the rakyat and not just for their voters alone.
“So, as we like to say, it is easier to be struck then to construct,” he said.
The Kuching Food Festival this year will be held from July 28 to Aug 20 in the compound of Dewan Masyarakat Padungan, Kuching. — DayakDaily
