Some 3,000 to attend water carnival, anniversary do at Long Lama

MIRI: The Long Lama Watersport Carnival and the second anniversary celebration of Telang Usan as a district at Long Lama from Sept 29 to Oct 1 are expected to attract more than 3,000 visitors.

Tel an gU san assembly man Dennis Ngau said it would be the fifth time that the carnival is being held.

“The number of visitors to Long Lama town to attend the three-day event is expected to double that of last year,” he said after chairing the meeting for the Long Lama Watersport Carnival and second anniversary celebration of Telang Usan as a district yesterday.

Present were Miri Resident Sherrina Hussaini, Telang Usan District Officer Baru Tai and representatives from the government and private sectors.

Dennis said the carnival is expected to be declared open by Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah at 1pm on Sept 30.

He said the second anniversary celebration would start from 10am on Oct 1 at Dewan SJKC Kee Tee Long Lama, and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas is expected to officiate at the ceremony.

On the Watersport Carnival, he said its main attractions would be the pump boat race, speed boat race and remote control boat race.

He also said the ‘ Datun Julut’ war rior and single dance competitions would be held for the first time, and they have attracted many entries.

Other than that, basketball and sepak takraw tournaments would be held throughout the week, Dennis added, while fancy dress and colouring contests would also be held and karaoke singing would be held on the night of Sept 29 at Dewan Kee Tee.

Also on Sept 30 and Oct 1, traditional boat race for 10, 15 and 20 paddlers for both men and women categories would be held, he added.

“It is a challenge for the rural Telang Usan community to organise events to stimulate the local economy apart from making the township more lively,” Dennis said further.

He said their shared vision and mission is to make Telang Usan a progressive, developed and preferred place to live in.