KUCHING: The Kuching Waterfront Festival and Sarawak Regatta will be held from Nov 10 – 19.
The 10-day festival will feature the Dragon Boat Race on its first weekend (Nov 10 – 12) followed by the Regatta on Nov 18 Nov and the River King race on Nov 19.
In a press conference held at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said there are a total of 23 teams participating in the Dragon Boat Race.
“These 23 teams come from 10 different countries. This year we will witness the maiden participation of teams from Bangladesh and India.
“Other participating countries include Australia, the Philippines, Brunei, China, Hong Kong and more. “There will be six categories for the race, five of them international categories. The other is a local category.
“The eye-dotting ceremony will be graced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg on Nov 11 (Saturday),” said the Minister.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Regatta will have 17 categories of boat race which include Perahu Tambang Berdayung, Perahu Tambang Berinjin and others. There will be 26 preliminary rounds and 17 final rounds. The River King will be held on the final day of the festival.
“The total prize for regatta is RM240,000 while the champion for the River King will win RM10,000.
“Forms for the Sarawak Regatta will be on sale on Oct 9 and can be retrieved at the Sarawak River Board (LSS) at Electra House,” Karim added.
He also informed that Abang Johari will be present during the launching of the Sarawak Regatta on Nov 18 while Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud will close the event on the final day.
Throughout the event will be the Craft Festival, Sarawak Kitchen, Regatta Concert and International Puppet Show which will be held at venues around the waterfront area. There will be major road closures during the 10-day festival – one side of the Jalan Main Bazaar, Jalan Gambier and the road connecting Brooke Dockyard to the Kuching Waterfront.
“Drivers should avoid these roads. Visitors may park their vehicles at Saujana Building, Taman Pelita or even at Pangkalan Sapi which is across the river,” said Karim.
