Consider making Pesta Selangau an international festival, says Entulu

SIBU: Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) has been urged to consider elevating Pesta Selangau from a localised event to an international one.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun said he hoped efforts could be made to bring the fest to a higher level similar to that of the popular Miri Jazz Festival.

“I do not know the long term plan by SRDC. But that ( bringing Pesta Selangau to a higher level) is a good idea, and I hope they (SRDC) do consider that.

“In fact, I have made a suggestion along that line in terms of giving varieties and raising the ‘pesta’ to a higher level, which also includes doing it at an international level later on,” Entulu told The Borneo Post on Saturday.

But he opined that at the same time, there must be coordination with various ‘ Pesta Gawai’ in other parts of Sarawak.

“Otherwise, there will be a lot of redundancies and it may eventually not bode well for the whole idea of trying to promote the ‘Dayak Pesta’.

“If they synergise as one group going overseas and working together with the Tourism Ministry, I think it can succeed,” added the Selangau MP, who officiated at Pesta Selangau 2017 on Friday.

Among those who attended the officiating were Selangau District Officer Inting Nyami, political secretary to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Adriana Chumang Nyambung, SRDC chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai and Penghulu Thomas Jawa.

Meanwhile, when asked whether the festival would be organised on a grander scale next year, Sempurai said this would depend on Selangau folk and the council.

He said the organiser of this year’s Pesta Selangau made the rafting challenge, which was introduced last year, its signature event.

Additionally, this year’s festival also saw the introduction of two new water events, namely kayaking and radio- controlled boat race.

Sempurai said as part of the calendar of events under the Visit Sibu Year 2017 campaign, he had high hopes for Pesta Selangau 2017 to be more successful and much grander than last year’s event.