Council chief hopes to see Durin Cultural Carnival included in 2025 state tourism calendar
Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai has high hopes for the Durin Cultural Carnival to be included in the 2025 Sarawak Tourism Calendar.
He points out that this not only would promote the carnival, but also uplift its standard in terms of performance and quality of the programmes.
“The Durin Cultural Carnival 2024 has been upgraded from the previously ‘Pesta Rakyat Durin’ (Durin People’s Festival).
“This time around, we combine the festival and the Batang Rajang Symphony to become Durin Cultural Carnival.
“There will be performance by sape international artistes like Mathew Ngau, Jerry Kamit, Tambonesa, and our local Kemada group will perform during the Batang Rajang Symphony Night.
“We hope that this would become the main attraction of the carnival as these performers are very talented and well-known internationally,” Sempurai told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.
The carnival will be taking place in Durin from this April 26 to 28.
Adding on, Sempurai said an inspection was conducted on the Durin Waterfront by the SRCD yesterday, headed by council secretary Ng Siang Wei and carnival’s organising chairman Councillor Datuk Teo Boon Siew.
“During the inspection, all agreed that the site would be suitable for Durin Cultural Carnival 2024.
“With the mini regatta and Batang Rajang Symphony Night as the highlights, we hope Durin Cultural Carnival would attract more people not only from Durin, but also from the surrounding areas namely Sibu Jaya, Kanowit, Julau and perhaps, even as far as Bintulu.”
Sempurai recalled that this event was postponed last year due to time and budget constraints.
Meanwhile, Teo said the working committee would continue to work closely with the relevant government agencies to ensure the smooth running of the carnival, which was expected to welcome some 5,000 visitors throughout the three days.
Federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing is expected to officiate at the opening ceremony on April 27, and also to flag off the Mini Regatta.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has been invited as the guest-of-honour for the closing ceremony.