Abdul Karim: Elevate BCF to global event
SIBU: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah wants to see the Borneo Cultural Festival ( BCF) elevated to Borneo World Cultural Festival in the near future.
In this regard, he urged Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) to think bigger and turn Sibu into a global place, where diverse cultures and dances of the world can be brought to be showcased to Sarawakians.
The BCF is into its 15th year, showcasing the diverse cultures that we have in Sarawak. We can become a global player to world culture - diverse cultures to be integrated into one place, where we can be entertained.
to be showcased to the community here. And turn Sibu into probably, Borneo World Cultural Festival in the years to come,” he said at the closing of BCF 2018 on Saturday night.
“I would like to see something like this become a reality and my ministry will definitely be there, behind you (SMC) to support and make it a reality. These are the kinds of things that we can do and hopefully it can be a reality in years to come,” the Asajaya assemblyman pointed out.
BCF was held here from July 19 till 28 to showcase a magnitude of colourful cultures, heritage and the diverse ethnicity of Sarawak.
Abdul Karim also said there should not be too much worries about the financing aspect to organise an event of such magnitude, which is expected to be very costly, as there would be good returns on the investment.
Citing the Rainforest World Music Festival ( RWMF) in Kuching as an example, he said it has brought good returns on investment – bringing smiles to operators of hotels, transportation and eateries.
Abdul Karim recalled that in this year’s RWMF, thousands of people flocked to Kuching to check out the very popular event.
“Out of that many thousands, if I am not mistaken, there were about 21,000 to 22,000 people coming just to watch RWMF. From this number, about 30 to 40 per cent of them are from outside (the state) just to come over and with exposure that the organiser has been able to create – many of them came just to be entertained.”
Hence, he reiterated his view that SMC could do the same thing to take BCF to greater heights.
“These are the kinds of returns we would want to see. I strongly believe when SMC organised this BCF – a lot of those taking part like selling food – they would be very happy because of the good returns over the past 10 days.
“Hopefully, SMC can also look forward, think bigger after this and try to probably create and turn Sibu into a global player where diverse cultures and dances can be showcased to Sarawakians,”
Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports
Abdul Karim enthused.
He congratulated SMC for successfully organising the BCF where people of diverse backgrounds could converge and foster racial harmony.
He highlighted that culture can be both a unifying factor and a tourism product.
SMC chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King also spoke at the function.
BCF 2018 culminated with a spectacular display of fireworks.
Permanent secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Hii Chang Kee, SMC deputy chairwoman Rogayah Jamain and Sibu Resident Charles Siaw were among those present at the closing.