SIBU: Determined in their effort to include Pesta Rakyat Durin in the Sarawak Tourism Event Calendar, the Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) will submit an application to the relevant parties.
Its organising chairman, Cr Teo Boon Siew said that it was to enable the festival to get enough allocation from the relevant parties in order for it to be organised on a larger scale in the coming year.
“When this festival is included in the Sarawak Tourism Event Calendar, all matters of organising it will go smoothly, especially in relation to finance.
“Besides that, it will be able to promote Durin as well as increase the local economy by boosting the tourism programmes planned by the ministry,” he said to reporters at the opening ceremony of the Remote-Control Boat Competition in Durin, on Friday (Nov 25).
Teo noted that the Pesta Rakyat organised since 1998, deserved to be listed as it is able to attract between 4,000 and 5,000 visitors from various areas.
He also pointed out that the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts had allocated RM70,000 to the festival this year. “The amount is still insufficient because the organisation of high-powered speedboat races requires high costs.”
The opening ceremony of the competition was officiated by Penghulu Ting Tien Huat, representing Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Michael Tiang Ming Tee.
Also present were SRDC chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai and SRDC acting secretary Chiong Siew Ping.
