Borneo cultural fest set for grand opening

SIBU, (Sarawak, Malaysia) , July 5 (Bernama) -- A grand parade by 56 contingents comprising 1,800 representatives from the Chinese, Malay/Melanau and Dayak/Orang Ulu cultural organisations and business entities will mark the opening night of the annual Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) here on Friday evening. Sarawak Minister of Housing and Tourism Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Wong Soon Koh and chairman of the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) Tiong Thai King will lead the two-hour-long colourful procession from 6.30 pm along the town's major streets. SMC deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng said Thursday the festival, the largest tourism event of the state's central region, would be held at the Sibu Town Square Phase One and Two until July 15. "The festival as usual will be in two parts -- the cultural and the business. To date, 126 companies in the agricultural, education, automotive, food production, heavy machinery and telecommunication services have confirmed their participation," he told a press conference. He said that for the first time, a Penan cultural troupe from Kapit town would perform at the Dayak/Orang Ulu stage on July 11. "The only foreign cultural troupe will be from Sri Lanka this year. They will perform from July 12 to 14," he said. Ngieng said the Malay/Melanau segment would also feature a full-scale Sarawak Malay traditional wedding ceremony for the first time. The festival is popular among the locals with an estimated 50,000 people turning up for the grand finale of the last festival in 2010. -- BERNAMA