By Nur Ashikin Louis
SRI AMAN, Sept 11: Sarawak hopes to position the Pesta Benak or Tidal Bore Festival here on the world map, including having it showing up at the top of Google search results whenever an Internet user keys in the word ‘Simanggang’.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said efforts to promote festivals and eco-tourism products such as Benak Batang Lupar as a unique icon in Sarawak in general, and the Sri Aman Division, in particular, have been actively conducted since long time ago.
“This makes Pesta Benak Sri Aman more visible and admired by many people up to the point that we hope that whenever we type ‘Simanggang’ into the Google search engine, the results will show various news on the festival,” he said when speaking at the closing ceremony of Pesta Benak here today.
He also mentioned that presently, Simanggang town had been nicknamed ‘Malaysian Tidal Bore Town’, and visitors often visit the town just to see the uniqueness of the tidal bore phenomenon.
Additionally, he noted that the festival, which commenced from Sept 9 until today (Sept 11), would enable the local community to increase their income.
Gracing the event was Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Amongst those present were Abdul Karim’s wife Datin Sri Zuraini Abdul Jabbar; Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development-cum-Simanggang assemblyman Datuk Francis Harden Hollis and wife Datin Simba Nalang; Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni; Deputy Minister for Transport Datuk Dr Jerip Susil; Sri Aman Resident-cum-Pesta Benak Sri Aman 2022 Main Committee advisor Sirai Daha; and Sri Aman Deputy Resident-cum-Pesta Benak Sri Aman 2022 Main Committee chairman Elvis Didit. — DayakDaily
