SIBU, Sept 23: Live music performances may soon be allowed in bistros, but the premises must be located in a designated area and not residential areas.
According to Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting, the council is looking at two places – the riverfront and old town areas for bistros to operate.
“There is no license for live performances yet but they are still happening around Sibu and they get into trouble with the police. We would like to earmark the riverfront and old town. I hope they can set up bistros there and we will give them licenses to hold live performances,” he said at the first Borneo Tribal Music Festival Exchange Conference today.
Ting said residents have been complaining to the council about loud music from live performances as a number of bistros are located near residential areas.
Ting also said that the council is also identifying a few areas for buskers to properly conduct their activities.
“For busking, we will identify a few areas for the activity. At present there is no proper place for them and the police have been going after them,” he said.
Ting said the council is taking such measures as it encourages youth to show their talents and also to make the town lively.
“We talked about the new trend in Sibu and we need to follow the times. Following the opening of various sectors after two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen more young people holding live singing performances,” he added.
Meanwhile, the two-day tribal music festival from Sept 23 to 24 that features traditional music performance is an impetus to enliven and promote the town to outsiders, Ting said.
La Vie Event & Management managing director who is also the organising chairman, Wilfred Gan said the event aims to promote local traditional music and to boost the local tourism industry.
Among those present was the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Art Permanent Secretary, Hii Chang Kee. — DayakDaily
