Sarawakiana Carnival may be included in tourism calendar

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Abdul Karim (fourth right) and wife Datin Zuraini Abdul Jabbar (on his left) join Rasidah (fourth left) and Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang (third left) in a photo-call on-stage with the top three contestants of Sarawakiana Carnival 2019’s short video competition.

KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture will consider incorporating the ‘Sarawakiana Carnival’ into Sarawak’s tourism calendar.

According to the minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the programme could potentially become a catalyst to further develop and promote Sarawak’s cultural heritage.

“I agree with the chief executive officer of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Dr Rasidah Bolhassan about the inclusion of the Sarawakiana Carnival as one of the programmes listed on the (Sarawak’s) tourism calendar.

“My ministry will consider it as it could become the next big international event for Sarawak like World Rainforest Music Festival (RWMF),” he said at the closing ceremony of Sarawakiana Carnival 2019 at a hotel here on Sunday night.

Abdul Karim also announced that the theme for Sarawakiana Carnival 2021 would be ‘Leaves’, which would highlight the specialty and uniqueness of the usage of leaves in the culture and daily life of the Sarawak community.

He said in Sarawak, various types of leaves could be used in many areas such as in food preparation, traditional medicines, customs and traditional ceremonies, home construction, decorations, fine arts and crafts, as well as games and recreations.

“Leaves play an important role in our lives, especially in our arts and designs here in Sarawak. The Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), for example, is shaped like a leaf when viewed from above,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Rasidah said this year’s theme for the carnival, ‘Our Tradition, Our Treasures’, focused on ‘Sarawak Engravings and Sculptures’.

Pustaka Negeri Sarawak here hosted the three-day event, which concluded last Sunday, while Pustaka Miri held the highlight event earlier this year.

According to Rasidah, the Sarawakiana Carnival made its debut in 2010.

Later, Abdul Karim and Rasidah jointly unveiled a book entitled ‘Winged Beauties: Birds of Sarawak’.

They also handed over prizes to the top entries for a short video competition on ‘Sculptures in Sarawak’, run in connection with the carnival.