TALENT STAR OF THE YEAR: Tiong (fifth right) presents the top BTA award with RM5,000 to Etnik Revolution team members as Lau (third right), Wong (fourth right) and others look on.
SIBU: Etnik Revolution wowed the judges with their ‘Ilham Santubong’ musical instrument performance to win the main Borneo Talent Awards (BTA) 2013 title ‘Talent Star of the Year’ at the Civic Centre here last Sunday.
Etnik Revolution were among 15 finalists as the team of four walked away with the top trophy and RM5,000 cash.
Sky and Gizmo who performed dual dubstep dance won the ‘Most Popular Talent Award’ while ‘Most Entertaining Talent Award’ was won by Kusenitari Sibu Group with its Indian dancing titled ‘Colours of Chameli’.
Sky and Gizmo and Kusenitari Sibu Group each received a trophy and RM1,000.
The seven winners of ‘Special Talent Awards’ were Capella Crew, Shelton Koh, Lee Kah Yean, Damni Taip, Timothy Ling Gu Chen, Steven Loh Zhi Fatt and Abdul Kadir Jolhi.
Each of them won RM500 and a trophy.
Speaking before the prize-giving, organising chairperson Wong Hie Ping said many new talents had been noted.
“We are glad and proud to see many of our previous participants performing regularly in and outside the country.
“Some have taken part in other competitions and achieved excellent results.
“Over three years we have seen all of our participants possessed with great potential.
“However it is a pity that quite a number of them were not properly trained or guided to bring out the best in them,” she said.
She added the organiser encouraged them to look for appropriate training (centres) to uncover more inherent talents.
She also urged schools, non-governmental organisations, churches, dance centres and music schools to send participants to next year’s BTA.
The BTA 2013 was organised by Sibu Municipal Council and sponsored by Farley Supermarket.
Present at the function were council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King, his deputy Daniel Ngieng, secretary Hii Chang Kee and Farley Supermarket managing director Lau Siew Whye.