KUCHING: State Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah does not agree to any move to change the date of the annual Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival (KWJF) due to the haze, saying it is “unnecessary”.
“When we did the first festival, we agreed to do it at the end of September, either on the 28 or 29.
“The haze did not reach critical levels every year. There were some years the haze was bad, as was this year.
“The last time when the haze was at its worst was back in 1997. Hopefully it will not happen again next year,” he said to reporters when met at the third edition of KWJF at MBKS Community Hall here on Friday night.
Karim was commenting on the decision to hold the event at an enclosed venue because the air quality was unhealthy.
Asserting the move was to avoid public health risk, Karim said the state however could not afford to cancel the event.
“Changing the venue was the best option,” he said.
According to him, the performers had asked whether the festival would be cancelled.
“I said we could not afford to cancel the event because the flight tickets and accommodation had been paid.
“Besides, for the last two years, the event had received good support, we need to keep the momentum going,” he said.
Abdul Karim said in fact he had asked the organisers if the venue could revert to the waterfront since the weather was getting better.
“However, they (the organisers) said that everything had been set up. Besides, they had done the trials and rehearsals down here.
“But then again, I find that the move (to have it indoor) is good for a change,” he added.
Asked on the crowd, he said the organisers were confident of over 1,600 turn-out on the second night (last night).
The two-day event was organised by Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) since 2017 aimed to gather jazz music lovers from local and international music industry.
