Sabah to host International Lantern, Folk Art Festival
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will be hosting its first ever International Lantern and Folk Art Festival in 2019, a one-of-a-kind festival that will feature more than 3,000 artistic lanterns along a threekilometre stretch.
Deputy Chief Minister cum Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the lanterns would resemble animals from China as well as local elements of Sabah, among others.
The three-month festival will be held along the stretch from Prince Philip Park to First Beach, Tanjung Aru and is expected to be launched on February 1.
The event will be held in conjunction with next year’s Chinese New Year celebration.
“Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal will be lighting up the lanterns on the opening night,” Christina said at a press conference at her ministry’s office on Wednesday.
The festival is organised by Silk Road International Property Development Group, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Sabah Tourism Board, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, all the Chinese associations in Sabah as well as the China Consul General.
“Besides the lanterns, the festival would also feature a food festival as well as entertainment on Chinese culture and Sabahan culture,” Christina said.
Entrance fee for the festival would be set at a minimum rate.
“We want to revitalize the livelihood of the beach (Prince Philip Park and Tanjung Aru). We want to create events and entertainment here so that the people will have a good place to go to,” she said.
Among those present at the press conference were Silk Road International Property Development Group Sdn Bhd executive director cum chief operating officer Chen Jian Bo, Sabah Institute of Art president Datuk Dr Wilson Yong, Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Junz Wong and Sabah Tourism Board general manager Suzaini Sabdin Ghani.