Annual Borneo Cultural Festival To Be A Grandeur Do Next Year

SIBU, July 26 (Bernama) -- The 10th edition of the Borneo Cultural Festival, Sibu and Sarawak central region signature tourism event, will be celebrated on a grander scale next year. Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King when closing the 10-day annual festival at the town square here last night said efforts would also be taken to upgrade it to a regional and international event.

Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation Datuk Sri William Mawan Ikom officiated the function on behalf of Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud. The festival, inaugurated in 2002 after fine tuning pioneer celebrations like Pesta Sibu, Millennium Celebration and the Borneo Tribal Extravaganza, has the ability to attract much bigger crowds than any other celebration in the state, since Saturday night alone an estimated 30,000 people attended the festival, said Tiong. He added that the festival was basically about promotion and preservation of traditional culture of the state's multi-ethnic society, especially among its new generation. Last night, an equally huge crowd were treated to performances by cultural groups from China, Taiwan, Pontianak and from Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile, Mawan said when Malaysians of different races appreciate, enjoy or participate in each other culture, their unity and harmony and spirit of co-operation could be further enhanced.