SEE HOW HIGH IT IS: Talib shows his skill playing the ‘Imong’, a type of kite.
BINTULU: More than 2,000 people converged at the Bintulu Old Airport as early as 8am yesterday to witness and participate in the fourth edition of Gudi Festival 2012.
The two-day event that started on June 23 was officiated by Assistant Minister of Tourism and Heritage Datuk Talib Zulpilip.
In his speech he said the event has been well established particularly in attracting locals and people from outside Bintulu to the festival.
“The locals are very fortunate to have Bintulu Old Airport for their recreational activities,” he said.
CENTRE OF ATTRACTION: A fully modified car in an auto show event attracts hundred of visitors to pose beside the car.
In the mean time, Talib who is Jepak assemblyman said the people should work hand-in-hand with Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) and the state government to make Bintulu a better place.
“It is not an easy task to implement as it takes time and effort but we must support BDA and the government to make Bintulu a better place,” he added.
From a fishing village, Bintulu has transformed into a vibrant city and had produced many products, he added.
“We have a famous ‘belacan’ (shrimp paste) here which is more expensive than cheese, besides becoming an industrial hub for oil and gas. Bintulu has indeed emerged as a big city with a multi-racial community.
“Bintulu has managed to attract outsiders from throughout the country and overseas to work and to live here,” said Talib.
Bintulu he said will continue to prosper as it begins to accommodate workers for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) due to its sufficient facilities. He said more investors will come to invest which will open up more job opportunities here, making it a pleasant and better place to live.
“If you earn a living here , behave and be respectful,” he added.
In another related development, Talib urged the people to use proper channels to express their dissatisfaction or ideas to the local authorities
He condemned those irresponsible who were using social networks such as Facebook to spread hatred and express their negative emotion against the government or local authorities.
Meanwhile BDA general manager Datu Mohidin Ishak pointed out that the rational of organising Gudi Festival separately from the Borneo International Kite Festival is to give more chances to local players to participate.
“There are many games for the people and other attractive sideline activities too,” he said.
He expressed his satisfaction with the warm participation from kite flyers outside Bintulu in the competition.
“More than 1,000 players are participating in the various competitions,” said Mohidin.
He hoped the festival would be able to promote traditional games to a higher level and be part of the activities stated in the Sarawak tourism calendar.
Mohidin also touched on the abundant job and business opportunities to be offered by Bintulu as an industrial city.
“There is no excuse for being jobless here though to be marketable one must know one’s suitable career,” he added.
Also present at the opening ceremony was Bintulu Resident Muhamad Yakup Kari, district officer Tuah Suni, Temenggong Abang Suhaili Abg Mohamed and other community leaders.