Temenggong Vincent Lau
Datuk Lau Cheng Kiong
SIBU: The scrapping of the annual Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) has drawn mixed reactions from people here.
When contacted yesterday, Temenggong Vincent Lau described the cancellation as a “normal reaction” from SMC. He pointed out that BCF was initiated by the BN Visionary Team, while SMC was tasked with the coordination of the event.
“When the BN representatives put in all efforts to help carve a name for Sibu and yet got a cool response from the people, naturally they feel disappointed. This is quite a normal reaction.”
However, Lau pointed out that as BCF aimed to promote the various cultures in the state and give business opportunities to participants, scrapping the event might have negative repercussions.
“For the interest of the people of Sibu at large, I hope that the SMC will consider reviving the event next year, once the disappointment of the defeat of the BN representatives has cooled down.” He said it would be a loss to the people if the event was scrapped permanently.
Meanwhile, Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce Sarawak branch president Datuk Lau Cheng Kiong said SMC’s actions would be seen as retaliation against the people for rejecting BN representatives.
“That is not the correct way to handle events. By right, the SMC and the BN representatives should look into ways to improve its programmes and further enhance the promotion of cultural activities.” Cheng Kiong said any action to “punish” the people for rejecting BN representatives would backfire and could even be turned into a political issue by the opposition.
“If the council deems it difficult to host the event on an annual basis, then they could stage the event biennially or even once in three years.” Sarawak Chinese Cultural Association patron Chua Hiong Kee said BCF should not be scrapped as it was originally held to promote various cultural events and unite the people.
“Why scrap the meaningful BCF simply because of the defeat of the BN representatives in the recent state election? That is not fair to those who supported the BN Visionary Team and the many BCF participants who had toiled so hard in the past months preparing for the event,” he said.
He called on the BN representatives not to feel dejected. “What they had lost, they could always find ways to win it back. It’s not the end of the road.”
Chua stressed that the BCF was about educating the people and preparing the younger generation to look to the future.
“It’s not about winning or losing the elections. It’s two separate entities, which should not be mixed.”