Carpenter Street comes alive with Intercultural Mooncake Festival

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Lo (centre) with Sim (third left) and others give the thumbs-up at the launch.

KUCHING: The 18th Kuching Intercultural Mooncake Festival (KIMF) is on now till Sept 13 along Carpenter Street and Ewe Hai Street.

Food, music and cultural performances are taking centre-stage along the lantern-lit streets from 6pm to 11pm daily.

“I myself am an ardent fan of this event. The concept of Sight, Sound and Taste put forward by the organiser appeals to the people,” said Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang who launched the festival on Saturday.

He remarked that the event has taken great strides in amplifying the nature of Sarawakians as truly accepting and accommodating each other.

The festival is made even more meaningful, he said, with Kuching being the City Of Unity and its venue Carpenter Street being a historic epicentre of development for Sarawak amidst diversity.

“As a Sarawakian, I am proud of our state because here we are not pretentious and are a united people. The unity is real and the friendship is forever.

“We now have to continue to safeguard our rights and identity. With the real political autonomy achieved by the formation of Gabungan Parti Sarawak and a more resolute attention on the Malaysia Agreement 1963, I am confident whichever political entity that rules Putrajaya will adhere to our needs because we are a united group of people,” he added.

Lo, who is also Padawan Municipal Council chairman, said the festival will transform Carpenter Street, a predominantly Chinese area, into a colourful bazaar with all the different races participating with glee and smiles.

Present at the launch was organising chairman Sim Kiang Chiok.