1,000 for lantern parade to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival today
KOTA KINABALU: Some 1,000 participants are taking part in the lantern parade held in conjunction with the Gaya Street Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival today at 6pm.
Wesley Liew, the only Sabahan among the eight Malaysian finalists in the Astro Golden Classic Melody singing competition this year, will also be performing at the event.
The main organizer, the United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu (USCCAKK) president Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen urged the city folks to bring their families along to the celebration.
Wong, who is also the organizing chairlady, said the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal would grace the event as the guest of honour to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with the people.
She said exciting performances awaited the public on Saturday evening, starting with lion and dragon dances at 5.30pm, followed by 24 seasons drum performance by SJK(C) Hwa Shiong.
She said a large LED screen had also been installed on stage to complement the stage peformances.
Apart from Wesley, Wong said the Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (SATTA) president Datuk Seri Winston Liaw and other renowned local singers would perform as well.
The audience will also be entertained with dance performances by students from Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School, Sekolah Menengah Kian Kok, Kota Kinabalu High School and SJK(C) St James among others.
Wong added that the Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Christina Liew and Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Liang Caide would attend the event as special guests, along with Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Chan Foong Hin and Likas Assemblyman Tan Lee Fatt, who would sing at the celebration too.
The public are welcome to join the auspicious occasion, especially to watch the colourful lantern parade.