Taib (fifth left) presses a button to light up the fireworks in declaring open Kuching Festival 2017. Also seen (from left) are Asfia, Dr Sim, Uggah and Chan, while from right are Sharifah Hasidah, Fatimah and Doreen.
KUCHING: The annual Kuching Festival, which celebrates the unity, harmony and cultural diversity of this vibrant city, has begun.
This year’s festival held in conjunction with the 29th Kuching City Day is themed ‘Unity in Diversity’.
Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, accompanied by his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib, officially declared open the festival yesterday.
Taib said he was impressed with the development of the festival which has grown by leaps and bounds under Kuching South City Council (MBKS) throughout the years.
“After so many celebrations, the festival continues to see a huge crowd. It shows the acceptance of people for this event.
“Such overwhelming response is a positive sign that the people care for this city” he added.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and wife Datin Amar Doreen Mayang, Kuching South Mayor Dato James Chan and wife Datin Catherine Sng, State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and wife Datin Enn Ong, Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, Assistant Minister of Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, and Kuching North Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai were among those present.