KUCHING: “Sometimes we show unity in subtle ways through sharing of food, helping each other during challenging times, such as facing births and deaths.
“We also show unity through celebrations, both big and small. We are Sarawakians. We recognise each other as friends, as family. We unite, not divide; and that is our Sarawak Pride.”
This was an excerpt of Victoria Ang’s story, the top prize winner for the Sarawak’s Pride project.
Miss Ang’s story entitled, “Uncle Ahmad and Yummy Food” was selected by a panel of juries as the top story among 725 stories that qualified.
The Sarawak’s Pride project organisers have received 975 valid submissions till the extended deadline of June 30.
Ang, who hails from here, is currently based in Kuala Lumpur and her story has won the grand prize of an Apple MacBook Pro.
The winner of the second prize of an Apple iPhone XR 128GB is Alexandra John from Kuching while the third prize of the Apple Airpods was won by Gary John from Betong.
There are two additional categories for a cash prize of RM500 each for the Best Creative Submission which was won by Zachary Stefan Macchesney from Miri and the Best Story from a non-Sarawakian was won by Chelward Brown, a university student from Jamaica studying here.
The Sarawak’s Pride project organisers are in the midst of preparing and publishing all selected stories into a maze which will be situated near the Square Tower of Kuching Waterfront.
The maze will be opened to members of the public from 12pm onwards on Aug 3 to 7. The maze will also be displayed in other parts of Sarawak including Betong, Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri.
The organisers will also be announcing the top three winners from each division at a later date.
Although the prizes have been awarded, members of the public are still welcome to share and submit their short stories on unity to help the organiser achieve the record number of 1,000 stories for the Malaysia Book of Records.
Those interested may still do so via e-mail to sarawakpride@gmail.com, by filling up an online form at the YPS’s website at www.yps.org.my/sarawakpride, or by sending a submission to the SDI WhatsApp number at 013-671 8063. Follow updates on this project via the website and social media (Facebook and Instagram) with the #sarawakpride hashtag.
