KUCHING: Deputy Premier Datuk Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian said Kuching City Day is a good avenue to foster unity among the multiracial and multireligious people in Sarawak.
On top of that, the event generates economic activities beneficial to the people.
“Anything else from here is a bonus, in a sense that Kuching City Day is also a part where so many economic activities are happening.
“There is the Kuching Food Festival and other activities that are benefit the people economically,” he said during the prize presentation and charity donation handover ceremony at MBKS yesterday (Aug 18).
Dr Sim reckoned that the event is an opportunity to give back to society, especially the less fortunate.
“That is just who we are, we continue to give and receive, how we look after each other and how we can continue to contribute to society,” he said.
On the Kuching Food Festival, he said a total of RM48,927 for 18 charities including Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia (Kuching), Kuching Life Care Society, Kuching Autistic Association, Salvation Army, Carnation Club of Kuching and Samarahan, Society for Kuching Urban Poor (SKUP) and Sarawak Breast Cancer Support Group.
Meanwhile, several schools in Kuching participated in the School Garden and Landscape Competition.
Two categories were contested (primary and secondary school) with SJK Chung Hua No. 5 taking home the grand prize of RM2,000 in the primary school category and SMK Bandar Kuching winning the RM3,000 grand prize in the secondary school category.
Also present were Mayor of Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Datuk Wee Hong Seng, Dr Sim’s wife Datuk Sri Enn Ong, Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Penguang Manggil, and the ministry’s permanent secretary Elizabeth Loh.
