Chan (second right) in a group photo with the women’s category winner Kuching Samarahan Bersatu who defeated Miri Warriors 1-0 in the finals. Also seen is Sarawak Women Hockey Association president Datin Mary Saadiah (third right) and deputy president Regina Janting (fourth right).
KUCHING: Kuching City South Mayor Datuk James Chan thanked the organisers of the Bersih 4 rally in Song Kheng Hai Grounds for honouring their promise to keep the event peaceful.
He said the manner in which the event was held meant that Kuching lived up to its historic proclamation as the first City of Unity in the world.
“In essence, we are a model city for others. Bersih (in Kuching) was held peacefully and this more or less confirmed Kuching as a city of peace and unity,” he told the media after officiating the Kuching Festival Hockey Tournament prize giving ceremony yesterday.
Kuching City South Council (MBKS) on Thursday had allowed the organisers of the Bersih 4 rally to use the field as their venue after the state government gave the blessing to do so for MBKS.
The organisers were told they could use the venue on the condition that they had a permit from the police to hold the rally and that they agreed to no litter or damage the council’s properties, create a public nuisance and pay a deposit of RM2,000 as a guarantee in case of any damages.
The rally in Kuching on Saturday was praised for the disciplined crowd and for being conducted peacefully in the manner which Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem wanted it to be done – the Sarawakian way.
Participants sat on the field as they listened to speeches, although the rally was cut short yesterday by the organisers.
Chan said he was concerned about the hot weather on Saturday, although the participants, with some coming from as far as Miri, were in high spirits and enjoyed their stay in Kuching throughout the event.
He also said he had heard about the dissatisfaction of some people with the organisers towards the end of the event, but he felt the matter should be best handled by the organisers.
“The government under the chief minister has been very fair in giving whoever a chance,” he said.
“It’s not a matter of MBKS being satisfied or not (with the handling of the event) since the state government has given the people the avenue and the place. The rally somehow turned out to be a nice and peaceful affair.
“As mayor I hope I don’t have to do that kind of thing anymore (approving the venue for such a rally). The council is supposed to just assure the city is clean and beautiful, and this (the rally) is something extra,” he added.