The Kuching Festival Fair 2016 begins today (July 29) with 234 food stalls and 201 trade stalls offering a rich variety of delicacies and products until Aug 21.

Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is expected to open the festival on Aug 1 in conjunction with City Day.

This year, four cultural troupes from Guro, South Korea; Asuke, Japan;and Zhengjiang and Chongzhou, China will perform at the opening ceremony to be held at Panggung MBKS, next to Dewan Masyarakat here.

The groups will also entertain festival-goers this weekend (July 30 and 31).

Mayor of Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Datuk James Chan, who described the Kuching Festival as ‘a people’s festival’ said it offered a platform for the community to mingle and enhance solidarity.

“This festival is not just about food only. We have entertainment, cultural events, exhibition, sports events and garden show. We welcome everybody to the festival. Entrance is free,” he told a news conference here yesterday.

Chan added that in Germany and the United States, one had to pay to be admitted into a festival.

“Kuching Festival is free and we do it for the people and not for the councils (MBKS and Kuching North City Commission – DBKU). We want Kuching to be the best city not only in Malaysia but in the world.

“People of Kuching are very friendly. We are a city with a soul. If you ask for my opinion, I’d say Kuching is the best in the world.”

Last year’s festival attracted 800,000 visitors, he said, adding that the number was expected to increase because of the on-going Sukma 2016 and Rainforest World Music Festival from Aug 5 to 7.

“We have not added those going for the entertainment in the 800,000, and the number of food stalls keeps increasing every year. The total number of food stalls is 19 more than that last year.”

Asserting that safety was of primary concern to MBKS, Chan called upon parents to look after their children and that individuals lock their vehicles properly and guard their belongings well.

The mascot for MBKS and DBKU ‘Alca’ will be available at RM35 each at the MBKS’ booth throughout the festival period.

MBKS will also allocate space for talented individuals to do free busking. Interested buskers are advised to call Andrew Tiong at 019-8282095.

Meanwhile, Datuk Bandar of DBKU Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai said the commission and MBKS aimed  to make Kuching a vibrant city for all.

He said the people had to change their mindset and play a role towards seeing Kuching maintain its status as a more liveable and healthy city.

Abang Wahap said the community should be more civilised instead of being seen behind the wheels of luxurious vehicles and yet winding down the window to throw their rubbish.

“Obesity is another problem in Malaysia; we just eat all the times. This is a reason why we need to have a more active lifestyle.

“We can cycle to work but some people may say cycling is not safe. DBKU has this ‘Let’s share the road’ concept whereby we share the road with other road users.”

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Lim How Pim

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