Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah
SIBU: Selangau Festival can become an international event if it is enriched and better promoted, said Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah yesterday.
“Whether one ‘festival’ has the potential to be promoted internationally or not depends on what that festival has to offer, and the kind of promotion given to it.
“If the Selangau Festival has lots to offer, good promotion, easier connectivity…I don’t see any reason why it should not be promoted to international level,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun when officiating at the opening of the festival last Friday said the event could place Selangau town as a tourist destination in the future, provided it was more creatively promoted.
He said new activities must be introduced to make the festival exciting.
He mentioned the self-defence discipline of ‘kuntau’ and ‘beramban’ (poetry) as among the activities that could be included.
Meanwhile, the rafting challenge was made the signature event of the festival this year. The rafting challenge was introduced during the previous festival.
Kayaking and the radio-controlled boat race were two other events rolled out this year.