MBKS denies overcharging stalls
It is not our intention to make profit (from Kuching Festival)...what we (MBKS) charge for the rental is very minimal and reasonable for us to run the festival for 24 days. — Mohamad Taufik, organising committee chairman
KUCHING: The organising committee of the Kuching Festival refutes claims that the fees charged for the stalls are exorbitant.
Organising committee chairman Councillor Mohamad Taufik, said the fees for stalls at the annual festival organised by Kuching City South Council (MBKS) are used to run the 24-day event which include holding sports, recreational and entertainment activities besides maintaining the cleanliness and security of the venue.
“It is not our intention to make profit (from Kuching Festival)... what we (MBKS) charge for the rental is very minimal and reasonable for us to run the festival for 24 days.
“We don’t spend even a single sen of the taxpayers money to run the festival because we want to be self-sufficient in organising this (Kuching Festival 2017) event,” Mohamad told a press conference yesterday.
He added that the fees collected from the festival was also used to pay the staff overtime.
According to Mohamad, more than 50 per cent of the stalls paid only RM500 rental for the entire period of the festival.
“Nowhere in Sarawak can you pay only RM500 for 24 days.”
He also said that big companies participating in the festival spent almost 10 times more than the rental fees for renovation because they are confident that the festival will benefit them in showcasing the products and services.
Mohamad assured that the Kuching Festival will continue to be improved every year and organiser is willing to listen to feedback from the public, adding that the festival would be promoted overseas from next year as part of the state tourism agenda.
Meanwhile, organising chairman of the Food Fair, Councillor Goh Tze Hui, said about 280,000 people have visited the festival since it started six days ago. Last year, some 800,000 people visited the festival. This year 316 food and drink stalls are set up compared to 290 last year.