Lantern and Food Fair of many ethnics light up harmony

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FOR YOU: Dr Wong (fourth left) presents the Usman Awang National Integration poster to Abg Suhaili as Yek (fifth left) and other guests look on.

BINTULU: This year’s Lantern and Food Fair festival has played a very significant role in strengthening the relationship and understanding between the Chinese and other races in the division.

The participation of various ethnics in the food fair activities, as well as in other side line events including the establishment of Usman Awang National Integration Award, acted as a unity campaign.

Centred at Bintulu Esplanade, the festival received an overwhelming response from the locals as the location is at the heart of the Bintulu town and easily accessible.

The advisor of Federation of Registered Chinese Association (Forca) Bintulu, Temenggong Barry Yek Siew Hui, said this year’s festival is very special for Forca since the success of the festival two years back, as it coincides with four occasions namely the 50th Sarawak independent in Malaysia, Bintulu Development Authority 35th anniversary and Forca 25th anniversary including the Mooncake festival.

“Credit should be given to Forca on its effort to foster racial harmony in the state through organising this festival because all people enjoyed the event together,” he said when officiating at the festival’s opening ceremony at Bintulu Esplanade on Saturday night.

“Understanding between    people is very important, thus through this event, people from all walks of life will be able to understand the culture of other communities better,” he said adding that this was part of efforts to promote racial harmony in the country.

He said credit should also be given to BDA and Bintulu Resident’s Office for their efforts in jointly organised the festival.

Yek said Bintulu has seen major changes as a developing town for the past 35 years and is one of the fastest growing towns in the country.

“Bintulu has now entering the third wave of development which is larger than the first and second phase,” he added.

Among those present were Forca Bintulu president Dr Wong Aik Loung, Bintulu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Pemanca Dr Francis Toh Chiew Peng, Bintulu Deputy Resident (Development) Sirai Daha, Bintulu Deputy Police chief DSP Mohd Said Ibrahim, Bintulu Education officer Tan Kiang Tuang, Temenggong Abang Suhaili Abg Mohamad and other community leaders.