Setting the stage for ‘Pesta Besaug Dalat’ at waterfront

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Setting the stage for ‘Pesta Besaug Dalat’ at waterfront

DALAT: The stage is set for the fourth instalment of ‘Pesta Besaug Dalat’ where thousands of visitors are expected to throng Dalat waterfront.

Held once every two years, the event will feature among others longboat and pump engine racing under various categories, including the much coveted title of ‘Raja Sungai’.

According to Dalat assemblywoman Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, the festival this year featured 40 boats for the Regatta category, while the Pump Engine category received overwhelming response with 189 participants.

“The participants came from various districts including Miri, Limbang, Lawas, Kapit and neighbouring Brunei Darussalam,” said Fatimah who is also Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development.

She was speaking at a press conference after the final rehearsal for the opening ceremony at Dalat Waterfront yesterday.

Fatimah said the event this year is getting bigger as more traders had registered to set up booths that add to the excitement to the carnival.

“Some 29 booths are being set up at the venue and the weekend is set to be a grand affair for Dalat,” she said.

She said entries for the festival programmes had to be limited due to overwhelming response.

The opening ceremony is expected to be graced by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Toh Puan Ragad Kurdi Taib.

Among the programmes lined up for the four-day festival which started yesterday were Ratu Kebaya contest, poco poco, karaoke competition and zumba session.

Fatimah later presented a RM120,000 grant to the festival’s committee represented by Dalat district officer Kueh Lei Poh.