KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) has received the State Government’s blessing to host an international dragon boat race this year, which FCAS has labeled as the first Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2014.
FCAS president Datuk Seri TC Goh refuted allegations that the federation has robbed Sabah Chinese Cultural Association (SCCA) of the right to host the annual international dragon boat race, an event which the association had been organizing for over 28 years.
SCCA president Datuk Chau Tet On is unhappy over the State Government’s decision to appoint the FCAS to host the international dragon boat race, which the association had been organizing since 1986.
Chau, who is also former deputy chief minister, has described the move as an insult to the association, who was the initiator of the event.
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun has responded by saying that the ministry could no longer sponsor the event, hence the decision to appoint FCAS as the organizer as the latter has the resources and manpower to better organize the race.
Masidi also said that FCAS was the logical body to lead the organization of the dragon boat race based on its wider network of Chinese friends and associates in Asia.
Goh reiterated that FCAS was assigned by the State Government to organize an international dragon race 2014, which the federation has labeled as the first Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2014. The State Government did not oppose to the label, he said.
The dragon boat race organized by SCCA last year was called the 28th Sabah Dragon Boat Race 2013.
“We did not rob anyone of anything because this is the first Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2014,”Goh insisted.
He said this at a press conference to announce the first Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2014 here yesterday. The race will be held at Likas Bay on June 7-8 this year.
“Nobody can stop anyone from organizing any tournament or race. We are innocent. We received a letter from the State Government assigning us to organize the international dragon boat race, so we did,”Goh explained.
Asked if the idea to organize the race was initiated by FCAS, he replied that it was the federation’s idea to organize an international dragon boat race, which the State Government has agreed to. Upon discussion, FCAS decided to name the race as the first Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2014.
Goh said the FCAS received an official letter from the State Government on March 14 this year, which approved the federation to organize an international dragon boat race.
On March 30, FCAS had its first meeting with the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to discuss race details. On April 14, FCAS had its first meeting on the dragon boat race and two days later, issued invitation to co-organize the event to four Chinese associations.
Goh said Chau is the only life honorary president of FCAS.
“If our life honorary president advised us not to organize the dragon boat race, the committee will have to listen and table that in our meeting,”he said.
Asked whether the dragon boat race will cause confusion among participants due to the different name, Goh said the federation had reviewed past organizing experiences and records, as well as maintained the previous system and programme to avoid confusion.
He said the organizer had also engaged Datuk Balwant Singh as race director to ensure the event was up to international standards.
At the end of the day, Goh said FCAS was willing to spend time and money to promote Chinese culture through the dragon boat race.
“We are putting all our efforts into organizing this event, and I hope such arguments in the media will come to an end,” he added.