KUCHING: Three orchid contests were held yesterday in conjunction with the Pre-Asia Pacific Orchid Conference (APOC) here in the State Library.
As such a prize giving ceremony was also held for the three competitions namely the Individual Orchid Competition, Educational Institutions (Landscape Display) Competition, and International Orchid Landscape Competition.
For the Individual Orchid Competition category, all prizes were swept up by Orchid Woods Company for the following sub-categories; Best Species in Show, Best Hybrid in Show, and Grand Champion.
SK Semerah Padi won first place in the Educational Institutions (Landscape Display) Competition category followed by SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak for second and third places, respectively.
According to Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai, the Pre-APOC will lead up to the actual 13th APOC which will be held in 2019.
He said the Pre-APOC is set to strengthen the orchid industry as an avenue for the development, hybridisation, culture, biotechnology and its application, and conservation of orchids among enthusiasts.
“Over the years, APOC has been successfully organised through the auspices of various orchid individuals and groups in private, government, and non-governmental organisation (NGO) sectors.
“APOC is a prestigious international orchid event that has been held in different countries which include Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan,” he said.
Wahap said that during the Pre-APOC 2017, they will be organising various activities to stimulate the public’s interest in orchids through conferences and various competitions.
“I hope to bring together researchers, orchid enthusiasts, traders, and the public to share ideas and techniques as well as to promote collaboration between countries in an effort to strengthen the orchid industry,” he said.
Meanwhile for the International Orchid Landscape Competition, Thailand emerged as champion whereas Vietnam claimed first runner-up and Taiwan claimed second runner up.
As for the sub-categories, Most Artistic Display was won by Okinawa, Japan; Most Colourful Display was won by Myanmar; Best Integration of Orchid Display was won by the Singapore Orchid Grower Association; and Orchid in Most Natural Setting was won by Thailand.
The event was declared open by the Chief Minister’s wife Datin Amar Dato Juma’ani Tun Datuk Patinggi Tuanku Haji Bujang who also gave away the prizes to the orchid contests’ winners.
