Rafting challenge highlight of Selangau Festival

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Sempurai (centre) chairs a full council meeting of SRDC. With him are Lau (left) and secretary Justani Joni.

SIBU: Rafting will be among the activities of this year’s Selangau Festival on Sept 7-9, with the organiser hoping to rope in teams from outside Sibu.

“This is not a competition confined to people of Selangau and Sibu,” said chairman of Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) Sempurai Petrus Ngelai.

The council is the organiser of the festival which has the rafting challenge as its signature event.

“I believe with outsiders’ participation, the event will be more interesting and challenging,” Sempurai told a press conference after a full council meeting here yesterday.

He said a committee tasked with the promotion of the festival has been formed with his deputy Robert Lau Hui Yew as the committee chairman.

“This committee is very essential to ensure that the festival will be able to grow and sustain itself, particularly the cost to cover the three-day festival,” Sempurai said.

Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan will flag off the rafting challenge at a point near Rumah Saong in Selangau.

Sempurai said the festival would be held at an open space near Giatmara building in Selangau instead of the previous venue at Selangau bazaar.

“We hope the change of venue will reduce traffic congestion in the bazaar,” he said.

On another subject, he said SRDC would emulate Subis District Council and Miri City Council in their approach to improve the service delivery.

“We’ll hold meet-the-people sessions every month, startingthis month (August)

“My deputy, secretary, zonal councillors, section heads and myself will turn up.

“All feedback, suggestions and reports gathered from the sessions will be compiled and channeled to the various standingcommittees for deliberation at our council’s monthly meeting,” he said.

The first session will be held at Sibu Jaya Food Court from 9am to 1pm on Aug 11.

The second one will be held at Selangau bazaar in September.

 

Conny Banji, [email protected]