Taib and Ragad with (front row, from left) Abang Johari, Sim and others proposing a toast in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Kuching Old Market Community Association at Waterfront Hotel, Kuching. — Photo Jeffery Mostapa
KUCHING: Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud lauded the leadership of Kuching Old Market Community Association (Komca) on their desire to see Kuching maintain its popularity and character, which he attributed to the friendliness of the people.
“People acknowledge this character, and it is not easy to maintain, but we can do so. I can bear the testimony of this character as I have been a resident living in Kuching as a school boy since 1956 at St Joseph’s,” he said.
“From my experiences in those days, I was able to pick up friends from all the races, and I had always appreciated one characteristic, which is the willingness to strike friendship with people,” he added.
Taib said this at the 20th anniversary dinner of Komca at Waterfront Hotel here on Friday.
He commended the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), led by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, for continuing to work hard to woo visitors to the state.
“The report from MoT indicated that tourism here is a success, and the reason was that visitors coming to Kuching felt very welcome due to our friendliness.”
“Kuching has grown and it is now four times the size compared to when we first formed Malaysia, and our popularity in the tourist calendar will depend a great deal on this characteristic.”
Taib said he was told by MoT that there was an increase in number of tourists and up to now the State recorded 4.5 million tourist arrivals with June showing an increase of 15,000 visitors.
“It is our signal of popularity of calling people from outside despite being dampened by the world recession,” he pointed out.
He noted that the mayors of Kuching City South and Kuching City North had been working hard to make Kuching City an attractive destination.
“Make sure that our visitors are not only tourists for the purpose of the budget. We have to understand our attractiveness of being open and friendly to visitors. We must have the ability to keep this and this is something that does not happen by accident.
“I think a lot of you are responsible and quite conscious that this kind of attractiveness needs nurturing,” he said.
Taib urged the business community to continue making Kuching a popular tourist destination.
He reminded that they must always nurture the spirit of racial harmony and at the same time have the desire to extend their horizon further by working together.
Meanwhile, Komca chairman Dato Sim Swee Yong called for the co-existence and harmony between the Malays and Chinese businessman in their area to be safeguarded and advised them to bring the Intercultural Moon Cake Festival at Carpenter Street to greater success.
Sim told Kuching Old Market area residents to cooperate with the government for further improvement in infrastructure so that the historic area can be more vibrant in view of the ever-changing economic environment.
The organising chairman of the dinner, Pemanca Ko Wei Neng, noted that that the Old Market area (Kuching Waterfront, Main Bazaar, Carpenter Street and Gambier Street) had evolved into a clean and safe place and had become an attraction for locals and tourists.
“All these were made possible as a result of the wise leadership of the then Chief Minister who is now the Governor of Sarawak,” he said.
Also present at the dinner were Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and wife Datin Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, Consul General Of China Fu Ji Jun and wife, patrons of the dinner Datuk Wee Kok Tiong and Waterfront Hotel managing director Dato Steve Ng and Chinese community leaders.