KUCHING: A touch of December rain failed to dampen the festive cheer at the Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) Christmas Open House 2019 at the Old Court House yesterday.
In the true spirit of giving, STF presented Christmas gifts and donations to four non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as the underprivileged.
The recipients were Rumah Seri Kenangan, Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah Children’s Home, Pusat Jagaan Sinar Kasih, Association for the Welfare of Intellectually Disabled Children (Perkata) Special School, and the underprivileged clients from the Social Welfare Department Samarahan Division.
Gifts included free vision screening and glasses for the elderly and children and free visits to Brooke Museums.
The gifts were also well-thought out and catered to each centre’s specific needs; for example, as children from Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah Children’s Home received a digital television, channel accesses and sport supplies.
Perkata Special School received school supplies in preparation for the coming school year while kitchen supply and school supply packages were prepared for the underprivileged from the Social Welfare Department Samarahan Division.
NGO members as well as members of the public were all smiles as they mingled and feasted during the open house, with local favourites such as ice kacang, satay and more.
Liza Sideni, museum manager at Brooke Museums and the event’s organising chairperson, said that the Christmas open house was a continuation of STF’s Chinese New Year, Gawai and Hari Raya open houses which had been held throughout the year.
“These open houses were very warmly received,” she said when met with reporters at the event.
She said that STF would definitely be maintaining open houses in their calendar for next year, and might even host them on a larger scale or extend them to other festivities such as Diwali.
Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kuching, the Right Reverend Datuk Danald Jute, in his speech, shared a story of when he was working in Lutong previously.
He said that his church in Lutong was next to a mosque, and during Christmas or Ramadan, each place of worship would invite the other to join in on their respective celebrations.
“It is the people which make the state special and unique like this. This is what Sarawak is all about — we love and respect one another,” he said.
Speaking later to reporters about the coming new year, he described it as an opportunity for a new beginning.
“It is an opportunity for any one of us to make a little step for renewal, to make a small change for the better — be it in personal life or work, but more importantly, for us as a nation and a people,” Jute said.
“I am looking forward to 2020, and I am sure many others are as well,” he added.
The open house also featured performances such as Christmas carols as well as clown and balloon entertainment for the children.
A section of the guests at the STF Christmas Open House 
Guests joining in on the feast at the open house.
Cheerful spirit at the STF Christmas Open house. 
Guests mingling at the event.
All smiles as Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah Children’s Home receives Christmas gifts and donations during the open house.
