KUCHING: The Kuching Festival Food Fair 2025 returned this year as a vibrant celebration of Sarawak’s cultural identity, bringing together thousands in a showcase of food, music and community spirit.
The event was officiated by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who described the festival as a reflection of Kuching’s soul and Sarawak’s unique spirit of harmony.
“Tonight, we gather to celebrate the soul of Kuching, its culture, music, and most importantly, the food,” said Dr Sim at the MBKS grounds last night (Aug 1).
He said Kuching had evolved beyond its early image as a jungle town in Borneo and is now a city of international standards.
“Our city is progressing with better infrastructure, but progress must also come with stronger shared values.
“Kuching is my city, and I ask myself what I can contribute. Kuching is your city, and you should ask what you can contribute.
“Kuching is our city, and together we must ask what we can achieve as a community. That is the true spirit of nation-building,” he said.
He praised the multicultural atmosphere at the festival, where Chinese, Dayak, and Malay stalls operate side by side.
“There is no issue. We are happily next to each other. This is the Sarawak spirit,” he said.
Dr Sim emphasised that such harmony reflects what Sarawak can offer to the rest of Malaysia as a model for nation-building.
“Kuching Festival is Sarawak. Sarawak is the brand name. This is part of nation building,” he added.
He also highlighted the diverse backgrounds of some vendors, including professionals like architects and lawyers, who only sell food during the festival to share their creativity, not to earn a living.
“There are also young people, like UNIMAS students, who use this space to experiment, not just to earn but to express themselves. This festival is the best showcase of ‘anak-anak Sarawak’,” he said.
Dr Sim said many Sarawakians abroad take the opportunity to return home during the festival, bringing friends along to experience the food, culture, and community spirit.
“At the heart of this festival is a message of mutual care and respect.
“By supporting one another, celebrating our diversity, and standing side by side, we show what it means to live with respect. That is what we embody here in Kuching,” he concluded.
