-
- Tabed (second left) with his pineapples. With him are (from left) Suria, Tebari and Baru.
-
- Baru (left) and his lot enjoy sweet pineapple slices.
-
- Guests get to taste sweet pineapple juice at the festival.
-
- The Lun Bawang women, all dressed their traditional costumes, wait for the arrival of guests to the festival.
LAWAS: Tabed Martin wowed everyone at ‘Pesta Bua Kaber’ in Kampung Puneng Trusan, Long Semadoh, here last weekend by winning big at the ‘Biggest Pineapple Competition’.
His mammoth 4.4kg fruit crop was adjudged the top winning entry at the contest, and so did his other fruits which placed both second and third.
Contender Tebari Idung took fourth and fifth place with his pineapples – the largest of which weighed 3.6kg.
The contest was among the highlights of the inaugural festival, of which name in Lun Bawang language means ‘Pineapple Fest’.
According to organising chairman Langun Meripa, the festival primarily aimed to promote agriculture products from the area, especially Puneng Trusan – renowned for producing the sweetest pineapples in the state.
“It’s quite encouraging to see over 500 people from all over Sarawak, Labuan and Long Pasia in Sabah coming to the festival, despite it being its first time. Such a good response has made the villagers to consider holding another one next year – perhaps in July as it is the pineapple harvesting season,” Langub said.
There was also a soap-making demonstration using pineapples by team members of Barefoot Mercy.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Tourism and Culture director for Sarawak, Suria Charles was present to deliver a talk on economic opportunities in eco-tourism.
He encouraged the villagers not only in Puneng Trusan, but also those from nearby villages, to venture into pineapple planting.
“The opportunity is at your doorstep, so grab it and get the ball rolling.”
Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian officiated at the closing ceremony.
In his remarks, Baru hoped that the festival would be an eye-opener to the people in the area.
“It aims to not only encourage you to plant more pineapples, but also pave the way for Puneng Trusan to become a tourism destination,” he said. At present, Puneng Trusah has a Lun Bawang population of about 300.