The Borneo Post

Over 17,000 visitors to Kuching Mooncake Festival so far

- By Saiful Bahari reporters@theborneop­ost.com

KUCHING: The 16th Kuching Intercultu­ral Mooncake Festival has drawn more than 17,000 visitors since opening its doors on Thursday last week.

According to Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the festival was greeted with smiles and cheers from people from all walks of life, and is a statement of how Kuching is indeed living up to its status as the city of unity.

“It is great to see visitors from all sorts of background, and this is what we want to cultivate, the spirit of togetherne­ss. I also believe that more will come until the festival ends this Wednesday,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after visiting the festival site on Sunday night.

Abdul Karim further elaborated that what was more interestin­g was that despite being held in the city’s ‘China Town’ at Carpenter Street, the stalls saw participat­ion of traders from other races too.

“We also saw stalls from the Dayak, Malay and Indian community here and this really

It is great to see visitors from all sorts of background, and this is what we want to cultivate, the spirit of togetherne­ss. I also believe that more will come until the festival ends this Wednesday.

depicts the variety of culture here in Kuching,” he said.

He pointed that this kind of understand­ing among races was vital to ensure the unity of the people and expressed hope that such traits will continue to grow.

“I hope that this event will continue to exhibit the various cultures in Sarawak and other places too, and I believe that will be an added strength to this festival for the years to come,” he said.

The minister spent about an hour visiting the stalls and was accompanie­d by Rural Electricit­y Assistant Minister Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, festival organising chairman Datuk Sim Swee Yong, co- organising chairperso­ns Sim Kiang Chiok and Amy Tnay, and Kuching North City Commission ( DBKU) commission­er Datuk Wee Hong Seng.

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister

 ??  ?? Abdul Karim (centre) and other guests-of-honour visit the stalls at the festival.
Abdul Karim (centre) and other guests-of-honour visit the stalls at the festival.

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