Association wants CNY Festival in STB calendar
KOTA KINABALU: The United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu (USCCAKK) has requested the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to list the Chinese New Year Dragon, Unicorn and Lion Dance Festival as one of the highlights in its events calendar.
USCCAKK President Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen hoped that the festival would become a tourism event of Sabah to attract more Chinese tourists to the State and experience the Chinese New Year (CNY) celebrations here.
Although the Chinese culture is very well preserved in Malaysia, she said many China nationals were unaware that the CNY atmosphere in this country was on a par with China.
“I believe STB can leverage on the Chinese New Year Dragon, Unicorn and Lion Dance Festival in Sabah to lure more Chinese tourists to the State during the festive seasons,” she said during a courtesy call on STB General Manager Suzaini Datuk Sabdin Ghani and her officials here.
Susan said the event had been held for over 30 years while the number of participating dragon, unicorn and lion dance troupes had grown from 10 in the beginning to more than 100 teams until now.
She said USCCAKK aspired to make the festival a major tourism event.
“This will not only promote Chinese culture, but will also complement STB’s effort in attracting more foreign tourists to Sabah.”
Susan also said the association had invited Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal to officiate at the opening ceremony of the festival at 2.30pm on February 9 (Saturday), whereas the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Liang Caide would launch the Chinese Cultural Village Exhibition at 9am the same day.
The Cultural Village Exhibition, to be held at the corridor of Likas Sports Complex on January 19 this year, will be opened to the public from 8am onwards.
All 15 clan associations under USCCAKK will showcase their traditional Chinese New Year pastries and a variety of tea drinks.
There will also be a catwalk contest featuring Chinese lady cheongsam and traditional male costume by the associations around 10am in the morning.
Meanwhile, the Chinese New Year Dragon, Unicorn and Lion Dance Festival will be held in the multipurpose hall at Likas Sports Complex (air-conditioned) from 1pm to 7pm on the same day.
Programmes include dragon, unicorn and lion dances, appearance by the God of Fortune, special luminous dragon dance and 24-season drum performance and local astro singer Wesley Liew to sing New Year Song.
Susan urged all KK folks to join in celebrating Chinese New Year at Likas Sports Complex on January 19, Saturday, 8am to 7pm. Admission is free.