MUKAH: The long-awaited Bederun Festival has finally made its return to Pekan Balingian.
Balingian assemblyman Abdul Yakub Arbi said the festival was making a comeback, having been last held in 2017.
“Alhamdulillah, the public’s response to the Bederun Festival this time is very encouraging and many people came to enliven this festivity from beyond the Balingian area,” he said.
He said this when officiating at the Bederun Balingian Festival, at the festival’s site, here, today (June 4).
According to him, apart from promoting Pekan Balingian to outsiders, this festival also aims to promote tourism and trade here.
“In addition, development is also being carried out in the Balingian area such as the construction of SMK Balingian, the upgrading of the stadium, the new Balingian Sub-district Office, the Dalat and Mukah District Council Office and the Balingian Selera Anjung.
“Not only that, we are also building a Medan Niaga and a new mosque in Kuala Balingian. A boutique hotel, playground, public and botanic park will also be built here,” he said.
In that regard, he said, with the coastal road from Bintulu, this will encourage more visitors to visit Balingian.
“It is understood that the bird chirping competition organised in conjunction with this festival received encouraging participation from all over Sarawak.
“On top of that, the water sports here received overwhelming response as we have had participants from Miri, Bintulu, Mukah and Dalat,” he said.
As such, he expressed his appreciation to those who worked hard to make the festival a success.
