By Karen Bong and Chris Bishop
KUCHING, Oct 29: The Sarawak Regatta-Kuching Waterfront Festival returned this year with a bang after a two-year absence due to the pandemic, including generating strong sales of nearly RM200,000 from the Craft Bazaar, a fringe event held within the festival grounds which just opened yesterday.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, who performed the eye-dotting ceremony to kick off the Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta today, said that the festival has bolstered entrepreneurial passion and brought economic spillover that benefits the local community.
“I was made to understand that there is an increase in international participation for the Dragon Boat race and local participation for next week’s Sarawak Regatta.
“This has brought a spillover effect on our entrepreneurs, and I was also made to understand that the festival just opened yesterday, (but) sales have increased to nearly RM200,000 at the Craft (Bazaar),” he told reporters when officiating at the event at the Kuching Waterfront today.
Abang Johari congratulated the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts under the leadership of Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah for a job well done.
Crowds of people descended onto the Kuching Waterfront for the festival that showcases Sarawak’s uniqueness and diverse heritage and cultures through boat races. This tradition dates back to 1872 during the James Brooke era to stop racial wars and bring peaceful competitiveness between the local tribes along the Rajang.
The Dragon Boat race from Oct 28 to 30 will feature 50 teams with 1,453 participants from 16 countries, including Britain, Italy, the United States of America, Australia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia.
This will be followed by the much-anticipated Sarawak Regatta boat race from Nov 4 to 6 in 14 categories, including “perahu balok”, “perahu bidar”, “perahu Kenyalang”, and “perahu tambang” races.
Paddlers will be vying for the “Raja Sungai” title and prize money of RM20,000, apart from a trophy.
The total prize money for all competitions is RM254,000 this year.
There are also various fringe events, including the Sarawak Original Malay Dance and Song Festival, Waterfront Idol, Battle of the Band, Rumah Sarawak Theatre, Rhythm of Sarawak Sound of Borneo, Kids Talent Night, and Symphony Orchestra performance.
State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Minister in the Premier of Sarawak’s Department Datuk John Sikie Tayai, caretaker Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato Sri Nancy Shukri, Deputy Minister of Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan, and State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki were among those present. — DayakDaily
