Dewi comes down to earth at Kpg Tematu

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Dewi receiving a bouquet from the event organising committee. Also seen is event organising chairman John (left).

KUCHING: Kampung Tematu, a Bidayuh village close to Kuching city, was in celebratory mood on Wednesday night not only for New Year Eve but as a homecoming reception for local heroine Dewi Liana Seriestha.

It was Dewi’s first official return to the village where she was raised ever since she was crowned Miss Talent at the Miss World finals last month in London. En route, she was crowned Miss Malaysia World 2014 on September last year to earn the finalist ticket to London.

Before she made her public appearance, excitement mounted as villagers gathered as early as 7pm to attend a Catholic New Year mass at the church situated just beside the village hall.

The New Year’s Day countdown was organised at the village hall after the mass as humble folks filled the hall immediately to catch a glimpse of their princess in her own village.

According to villagers, the New Year’s Day countdown was also an initiative of the Kampung Tematu Village Hall’s Recreation, Users and Management Club to welcome Dewi back to the village after her unprecedented success for state and nation.

Speaking to The Borneo Post during the event, club and event organising chairman John Pata James commented that he was glad that Dewi chose to spend New Year’s Eve with her villagers despite her busy schedule.

“Having Dewi spending time with her villagers just weeks after her great achievement for the country was indeed historical for this village. There is no doubt that her fellow villagers here are very proud of her,” he added.

Before the countdown, Dewi had dinner with the villagers and sang a few numbers on stage to entertain them, not before giving a speech of appreciation to the home folk for their tremendous support.

While one would expect the homecoming queen to join slick city revellers in the night lights of metropolitan Kuching, she confessed there was no other better place in mind than spending New Year’s Day with her family and relatives at Kampung Tematu.

“It is nice to be back home as I have been busy ever since I was crowned Miss Talent. I feel relaxed here and I guess it would be great to have a day of rest or two here before I continue my work,” she said.

Also at the event was Pemanca Liu Thian Liong who attended the event on behalf of Local Government and Community Minister Wong Soon Koh.

On behalf of Wong, he handed over a cheque worth RM15,000 to the Kampung Tematu Village Hall’s Recreation, Users and Management Club to help them with future activities.

Liu too personally donated RM3,000 to the club before the event, to help the club organise the New Year countdown at the village.