3rd Selangau Festival attracts some 10,000 visitors – SRDC chairman
SIBU: The Selangau Festival which is into its third year, parading its signature event – the Rafting Challenge, has received overwhelming response from the public, said Sibu Rural District Council ( SRDC) chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai.
He also noted that from the initial survey by the council staff, the three weeks of fun fair and last three days of festival had attracted not fewer than 10,000 people coming to the carnival venue next to Selangau bazaar.
This showed that the festival received good response and support from both locals and visitors, he added.
Adding on, Sempurai said this year’s rafting challenge received good response from participants from Selangau, Sibu and surrounding areas, where there were 35 rafts joining the competition.
Samalaju assemblyman Majang Renggi represented Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan to officiate at the Rafting Challenge, while the Selangau District officer Inting Nyami f lagged off the event.
In view of this good response, Sempurai suggested that promotion be done early for next year’s rafting challenge to register more participants from outside Sibu Division especially from Kuching, Bintulu and Miri, while hoping that the event will be upgraded in terms of promotion and race management next year.
“SRDC hopes that this annual Selangau Festival will become one of the outstanding festivals that we have throughout Sarawak. With that, comes lots of opportunities for the locals to promote local foods, jungle produces and handicrafts,” he said yesterday.
The three- day festival organised by SRDC, was declared open by Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang on Sept 7 and ended on Sept 9.
“As mentioned by YB Christopher Gira Sambang ( in his speech during the launching), upon completion of the Selangau Waterfront project, Selangau Mini Stadium and Selangau New District Office – Selangau will be transformed into a developed township.
“As for the council, we will continue to provide more municipal facilities like public toilets, cleanliness, more bin centres and improvement of the current ‘ Tamu’ and market,” Sempurai said.
Currently, upgrading works are being done on the Selangau Market and the cooked food stalls– collaboration between FAMA ( Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority) and SRDC.
When this upgrading work is completed, it will provide more space for stall operators and conducive environment for both stall owners and customers.
Gira in his speech had announced construction of a new ‘ Rumah Asap’ ( smoke house) for Selangau town and Sekuau to replace existing ones for both locations.
On this, Sempurai revealed that the council has already been entrusted to look for a suitable location for the two projects, adding that this will be another attraction for Selangau Bazaar.