STRIKING A POSE: Adenan (second right) has a light moment with young Muaythai exponents. Also seen are Kuching Resident Abang Shamsudin Abang Seruji (fourth left) and Digi Telecommunications Sarawak region head Benny Wee (third left).
KUCHING: Pesta Sematan will help to turn Sematan, a coastline area in Sarawak’s southernmost region, into a premier eco-tourism centre.
The festival, which is one of the government’s Blue Ocean Strategy approaches, will be held on Oct 25-27.
Event patron Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem said the response to Pesta Sematan since its inception in 2008 has been very good.
“Every year, it never fails to attract 20,000 people to come all the way to Sematan for the event, which offers various attractive activities. Since Sematan is blessed with a variety of natural beauty and attractions, we are confident of achieving this status (premier eco-tourism centre) in the near future,” he told a press conference yesterday.
A new feature this year will be Muaythai — a Thai combat sport — with 15 teams including Kelab Muaythai Headhunters from Perak participating in various categories.
“Muaythai is the newest addition, due to the increasing popularity of this sport in Lundu District (which covers Sematan). If possible, we want to have the Muaythai competition every year,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lundu District Officer Azmi Bujang said the Muaythai competition is offering prizes totalling RM20,000 and has so far attracted over 100 participants.
“Most of the exponents are from outside Lundu District. Apart from one team from Perak, the other teams are from Sibu, Bintulu, Kuching and Samarahan,” said Azmi.
He also announced prizes totalling RM5,000 for the Sematan Outdoor Challenge, an annual activity for Pesta Sematan, which comprises a 26km cycling competition for both men and women, as well as a 10km run (men) and 6km run (ladies).
Another activity with RM4,000 in prizes is the Gerak Kreatif dance competition.
“We also have the Kenduri Rakyat on October 26, which will feature a special menu comprising dishes from 10 selected villages from the Malay, Iban, Bidayuh and Chinese communities,” Azmi said, adding there are also 217 trading lots for hawkers priced at RM50 for the three days.
He added that the committee aims to make the event among the top 10 on the state’s tourism calendar within the next three years.
Digi Telecommunications has been the main sponsor of the event for the last four years and continues to do so this year.