Locals greet 2004 in more ways than one
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Muslim family enjoys a feast after holding a "Doa Selamat" at home.

RBC personnel celebrate the New Year in "Cowboy Style". Photos by Hj Mohd Said Arshad

Thousands of Bruneians crossed the border post towards the oil-town of Miri to usher the New Year to watch a free performance by Misha Omar, a top Malaysian songstress.

Returning travellers said yesterday that an estimated 100,000 people including Bruneians converged in Miri town centre for the 2004 countdown.

Misha who recently bagged the best vocal award with her song "Bunga-Bunga Cinta" (Flowers of Love) at the 18th Anugerah Juara Lagu at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur last Sunday was definitely a star attraction at the countdown.

Soon after the 2004 countdown, the sky was lit with fireworks to the roaring cheers of the crowd.

After the ushering of the New Year, the Sarawak Chief Minister Pehin Sri Dr Hj Abdul Taib Mahmud launched The Sarawak Eco-Biotourism Year 2004, which is an extension of the Visit Sarawak Year 2003.

Three products for the programme were also revealed at the launch, namely the Tanah Tinggi Community Music Festival, Mukah Handicraft Exhibition and the Batang Ai Water Festivity.

The Sarawak Eco-Biotourism Year 2004 hopes to emulate the Visit Sarawak Year 2003 which had attracted some three million tourists to the state in spite of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that attacked the region in the first half of last year.

Bruneians also came in droves to Labuan for the countdown to 2004 which featured the stars of Akademi Fantasia.

Meanwhile, some Muslims in the Sultanate decided to usher the arrival of the New Year the Islamic way.

Family members, relatives and friends grouped together to hold special prayers or Doa Selamat as the clock ticked away past midnight. They then treated themselves with sumptuous food and delicacies.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin