MIRI: More than 30 ethnic associations will march through the streets of Miri as organisers of the Taste of Borneo Cultural Carnival 4.0 seek to secure a place in the Malaysia Book of Records with what they hope will become the country’s largest parade involving ethnic community associations.
The record attempt will mark the opening highlight of the 12-day carnival, which runs from July 1 to 12 at the open air car park of Boulevard Shopping Centre.
Organised by the Sarawak Chinese Association in collaboration with Miri City Council and the Miri Divisional Office, the carnival has also brought together 22 community and cultural organisations in a collective effort to celebrate Borneo’s rich multicultural heritage while strengthening cultural understanding among its diverse communities.
Organisers expect more than 32 ethnic and community associations to take part in the parade, alongside contingents from Miri Chung Hwa High School, Marudi Secondary School, Bekenu Secondary School and Lan Luo Secondary School.
Adding an international dimension to the event, a cultural delegation from Yunnan, China will also participate.
The parade is scheduled to begin at 6pm, following a route around the Boulevard commercial precinct before passing the artificial lake recreational park and returning to the carnival grounds.
To facilitate the procession, roads along the parade route will be temporarily closed from 4.30pm until after 7.30pm. Motorists have been advised to plan their journeys in advance to avoid delays.
Beyond the record attempt, the Taste of Borneo Cultural Carnival promises a packed programme celebrating the cultural diversity of Sarawak and the wider Borneo region.
Visitors can look forward to more than 150 food stalls offering a wide range of local delicacies throughout the carnival.
Nightly entertainment will feature traditional and contemporary performances, including the Miri Division multi-ethnic school dance competition, the “Walk with Love” Sarawak Chinese charity night, indigenous cultural performances, the Voice of Borneo singing competition, Rhythm and Warriors Night, Indigenous Cultures Night, drumming performances, the Miss Borneo pageant and the Miri inter-school 3R eco-fashion design and fashion show.
One of the major attractions will be the Seni Budaya Tarian Borneo, or Borneo Cultural Dance Showcase, on July 3.
The showcase will bring together traditional dance troupes from across Borneo, including performers from Sabah, Brunei, Indonesia and Yunnan, China, further reinforcing the carnival’s role as a regional platform for cultural exchange.
The programme will be officiated by the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, who also oversees the Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development portfolio, Datuk Seri Abang Karim Rahman Hamzah.
The carnival’s official opening ceremony will take place on July 4 and will be officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The ceremony will also witness the exchange of friendship agreements between the Taste of Borneo Cultural Carnival and the Yunnan Ethnic Association, as well as the signing of a memorandum of understanding on sister city cooperation between Miri City Council and the Lijiang Municipal Government in China.
Organisers said the agreements represent another step forward in strengthening cultural ties and international cooperation through people-to-people exchanges.
Members of the public are encouraged to attend the carnival throughout its 12-day run and experience the food, performances and traditions that reflect the cultural diversity of Borneo.
