Adenan unfurls the banner to kick off Pesta Benak (Tidal Bore Festival). At right is Jamilah with Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg (second right).
SRI AMAN: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem yesterday pledged to increase funding for the Tidal Bore Festival (Pesta Benak) here, telling the organisers to ride on the crest of its popularity as a world-renowned event.
He said the iconic festival, which celebrates the natural wave phenomenon on Batang Lupar River, needs to attract more attention from the people, both domestically and outside the country.
“This festival, which is synonymous with Sri Aman Division, is unique. Like the Tidal Bore Festival, forts from the colonial era built by the Brooke family (British) are also synonymous with Sarawak. Sarawakians should also appreciate that heritage,” he said.
Adenan said this when he was launching the Pesta Benak 2015 at Sri Aman town waterfront yesterday.
The chief executive of the state had earlier unveiled the newly restored Fort Alice, which has been converted to a heritage museum.
With Fort Alice located near the waterfront, Adenan said there was now more reason for tourists to visit Sri Aman.
Thus, he hoped the organisers of Pesta Benak will also work harder to promote the festival world-wide in the near future.
Adenan also took time to witness one of the boat races held yesterday, viewing from prime spot of the grand stand constructed for the festival at the waterfront, in which he too presented prizes to a few winners as well.
Present together with the chief minister for his visit to Sri Aman was his wife Datin Patinggi Dato Jamilah Anu, a few state ministers, assistant ministers, local MPs, assemblyman, officials and local community leaders.
The Tidal Bore Festival is an annual event organised in the town. It centres on the occasional tidal bore occurrence at the Batang Lupar river, an iconic river in Sarawak that flows past Sri Aman town.
Finalists of the Miss Pesta Benak 2015 also made a special appearance yesterday.
Adenan (second left) presenting a prize to one of the winners of the boat races.
A helicopter hovering over the Batang Lupar where some races were in action.