KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Samarahan Food and Cultural Festival (SFCF) 2025 aims to boost tourism, support small enterprises, and highlight the district’s rich culture to thousands of visitors.
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Rubiah Wang, said the festival’s growth and diverse offerings have strengthened Samarahan’s reputation as a vibrant cultural destination.
“This festival is no longer a small community event and has grown into a platform that highlights our culture and economic potential,” she said during the launch at the MPKS Desa Ilmu Market Site on Saturday night.
Running from November 21 to 29, the nine-day festival builds on its record of nearly 200,000 attendees and RM300,000 in returns last year.
The 2025 edition features 46 food stalls, 10 craft booths, 10 food trucks, and nightly cultural performances, including bermukun, bertandak, kompang, gendang pampat, Bugis arts, and traditional Chinese dances.
“Every food stall and cultural performance shows that Samarahan honours its traditions while presenting them in a fresh and relevant way,” Rubiah said.
She highlighted that the festival also supports small and micro-enterprises by providing exposure to larger crowds, benefiting traders, artisans, transport operators, and accommodation providers.
“This festival creates real revenue opportunities for micro and small businesses,” she said.
Sustainability is also a key focus, with digital payments, QR maps, and reduced single-use plastics introduced in line with Sarawak’s target to cut carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030.
“When people can practise these changes in a relaxed setting like this, the development message becomes easier to accept and understand,” she said.
Rubiah commended strong collaboration among MPKS, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), government agencies, non-governmental organisations and community groups, noting that partnerships ensure smooth operations and long-term continuity.
She added that cultural events like SFCF foster unity by bringing together different ethnic groups and bridging generational gaps through shared experiences in food, art, and tradition.
With its combination of cultural performances, local food, and community engagement, SFCF 2025 is poised to enhance Samarahan’s profile as a dynamic tourism and cultural hub in Sarawak.
