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by Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Aug 11: Savvy seafood vendor, 60-year-old Dewani Sabirin, could not agree more with the organiser of Pesta Sematan 2023 when they picked the theme “Sematan Nature Paradise”.
Dewani said the theme truly reflects the seaside town as it is famous for its beautiful golden white beaches and surrounding mountains.
“To top it off, we have plenty of seafood that we use to prepare many savoury dishes,” she told DayakDaily when interviewed at her stall today.
Dewani, who has been selling fried soft shell crabs for the last twenty years, boasted that many visitors who come to Sematan town would not leave without tasting her delectable crab dishes and other seafood specialties that she prepares.
“For many of them, it is their favourite dish here in Sematan, and today during the festival, we have prepared more as we anticipate a lot of visitors. We would like to thank the government for organising the festival this year for three days to boost the local economy, as it helps us a lot,” she said with a smile.
Pesta Sematan will be held from Aug 11 to 13, and will feature plenty of activities including local food stalls in Sematan, which is located about 120km from Kuching city.
Meanwhile, 62-year-old cafe owner Simah Asri also said that she hoped that Sematan would be further developed and become a tourism destination in the near future.
“We want people to come to spend and help boost our local economy here. These visitors do not have to worry if they did not bring much cash, as we now have a newly installed ATM. The business community here are happy as these facilities help us and visitors.
According to 55-year-old fruit seller Morni Bolhi, he welcomed the festival, as he described it as an event that would help enliven the town.
“Sematan is a quiet seaside town, and with such activities, it will be able to attract more people from other nearby towns to visit. I hoped my fruits business will be brisk,” he enthused.
Young entrepreneurial teenager and vendor 18-year-old Amira Bolhassan said such a festival gave her a chance to boost her income and get more young people to try their hand at running their own business.
“It is more lively than the last time. We want this festival to continue and become grander year by year, not only to showcase the beauty of our seaside town but to allow the people to participate in the many activities we have here.
“Besides the stage performances and shows, there are also traditional sports competitions, on land and the sea,” she said. — DayakDaily
