Abang Johari performs the eye-dotting of the dragon on one of the boats to mark the start of the race at Kuching Waterfront. — Photos by Muhammad Rais Sanusi.
KUCHING: A proposal has been made to have the Sarawak Regatta Festival be held in November, beginning next year, to attract more visitors.
According to Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, his ministry is vigorously monitoring and gathering feedback on the annual event.
He said should the feedback from the public be positive, he would push for the week-long festival to be run in November next year, rather than in September as it always had been.
“This festival should be held after the school and public examinations. We do believe that it is during this time (month-long school holiday) that there would be many visitors coming to the city,” he told reporters after officiating at the Food Fiesta 2015, Craft Bazaar 2015 and dragon boat eye-dotting ceremonies yesterday – all of which are activities being run in conjunction with the regatta.
Later, the minister declared open the East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum (EATOF) at Kuching Waterfront.
Abang Johari, who represented Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem at the ceremonies, also highlighted that another reason for the November proposal was that there were other key events going on throughout September every year.
“We have the National Month, the TYT (Head of State)’s birthday and Malaysia Day celebrations – it is just too busy. As such, shifting it (Sarawak Regatta) to November would be much more suitable for everyone – be they the organisers or members of the public.”
On the perennial year-end rainy season hitting Sarawak, Abang Johari believed that it was usually not as heavy as that occurring in January and February.
In this respect, he hoped that the proposal would get the green light so that preparations could be made for a more vibrant festival next year. On the regatta, Abang Johari – who is Satok assemblyman – disclosed that there would be new categories of boat races next year.
“We have several new categories in mind. We may include the inter-varsity and alumni boat races next year. From what I understand, some local and international institutions of higher learning are currently discussing on the idea.”
He also mentioned that should there be a consensus between the alumni of the Henley Business School and those of Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the UK, the regatta could even host their famous rowing races on Sungai Sarawak.
“Perhaps by then, we could get our local varsity teams to compete against their British counterparts,” he said. The minister was sure that if this idea come to fruition, the regatta could have its duration extended next year, adding that there might be separate events for the inter-varsity and alumni races which could have international participation.
This year, Sarawak Regatta is introducing the state’s own team competing in the International Dragon Boat race.
Abang Johari, who came to the events here with his wife Datin Amar Jumaani Tun Tuanku Bujang, was also accompanied by Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Talib Zulpilip, Assistant Minister in Chief Minister’s (Bumiputra Entrepreneurs Development) Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, Samariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, and permanent secretary to Tourism Ministry Datu Ik Pahon Joyik.
A member of Sarawak dragon boat team waves the state flag prior to the start of the race.