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By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 25: The Kuching Food Festival (KFF) stall selection was done in the most transparent way, says Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng.
He explained that MBKS had received over 800 applications which is 2.5 times more than the available stalls that KFF can cater for.
Thus, he said, MBKS had to conduct a fair selection process which was done transparently through the broadcasting of the ballot session and witnessed by the press.
“For the past few weeks, the council has been attacked on its method of selecting the stall applications.
“I don’t know whether the attacks were personally directed at me, the council or the festival itself, but whatever it is, we (MBKS) are ready to answer to any question.
“If the number of applications matched with the vacancies we offered, then it would be very easy for us.
“However, when we have two-and-a-half times more than the required applications, then we have to find a fair and transparent way of selecting them,” he said during a briefing on Kuching Festival Fair 2023 held at the MBKS Complex here today.
He reiterated successful applicants could approach MBKS councillors and officers directly upon encountering any issue and not rant on social media.
“You are there (at KFF) to represent the best food of Sarawak and you have a duty to play. I assure you that there will be people who would try to come up with a lot of trouble and in that sense, I hope everyone is part of us.
“We will not allow or tolerate anyone to spoil this festival which has been built over the past 30 years.
“The KFF is not a small night market; it represents the best cuisine of Sarawak and you all are the ambassadors who present the food so let us work hard towards it,” he added.
KFF returns to the MBKS Community Hall at Jalan Padungan here from July 28 to Aug 20. — DayakDaily
