KUCHING: Mambong Assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil was delighted with the success of the third edition of the Semadang Tagang Festival held at Kpg Semadang from 28 to 30 July.
The Assistant Minister of Transportation lauded the festival’s organising committee, by saying that they did a very good job in making the festival a success.
“The festival is growing and is able to attract more visitors. I am looking forward to a bigger festival next year,” Dr Jerip said.
He added that the festival has been able to create awareness among the public on the importance of having clean rivers with the Tagang System like what the Kampung Semadang folks are doing with their river.
“The Semadang Tagang System has been very successful since it was launched in 2007.
“The villagers have successfully taken good care of the river and the fishes in it,” he said.
Thus, he urged those residing along the Semadang River to continue with the Tagang System to ensure the safety of the river and the fishes in it.
The festival also managed to attract a group of volunteers comprising 38 students from UCSI University.
One of the volunteers, Robinson Ken from Penampang, Sabah said the festival was a spectacular show of sustainability and tourism working hand in hand with each other to benefit both the organisers and participants.
“Besides, it also shows how tourism can help the local community to enhance their entrepreneurship skills to elevate their household economy,” Robinson said.
He added that the three-day festival also enabled tertiary institutions to play a part in developing the local community.
Khun Swe Phyo from Yangoon said the festival is a new experience for festival lovers with a lot of activities such as kayaking, fishing, bamboo rafting and beauty contest.
“Lots of home-stays around the village are drawing the visitors’ attentions. It is easily accessible and recommended for culture and nature explorers,” Khun said.
Leander Michandawe of Pontianak, Indonesia said the Semadang Tagang Festival 2017 was amazing.
“I really love it especially the various competitions held such as fishing, cooking, dart, kayaking, bamboo rafting and beauty contest.
Leander also noted that the surrounding community was very enthusiastic to participate in the competitions.
“The various foods sold at the festival are also very interesting especially the traditional ones such as lemang. I hope this event will be held again the future,” Leander said.
For Wong Ivon of Cheras, Kuala Lumpur it was a new and interesting experience.
“As I was born and raised in KL which is a busy city, there are limited chances for me to immerse in nature and learn about the local traditions.
“Staying overnight in the village provided me chances to experience their daily life.
“It was a great experience and I would encourage non-Sarawakians to participate in this event in the future to get to know more about their culture,” Ivon added.
The group of 38 students was led by a lecturer of the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Bernard Stephen Jussem, while the university‘s Chief Operating Officer, Mukvinder Kaur Sandhu attended the official opening ceremony of the festival.
Meanwhile, Kampung Semadang headman Samson Mangang said the festival has benefited the villages that took part in the food bazaar, adding that there were 35 stalls selling food, beverages, handicrafts, and jungle produces.
“Four homestays in the village are fully occupied during the three-day festival,” Samson said, adding business was brisk for the stall operators as the foods and drinks were sold out.
One of the stall operators, who sold satay and BBQ food and drinks, Telvis Joe Nakan, 50, said he made good profit during the three-day festival as all his foods and drinks were all sold.
The festival director Robert Kenneth was blown away by the success of the festival, saying that the festival would certainly be held next year.
“We don’t have any official numbers yet but I dare to say thousands came to the festival.
“It is everything I dreamed of. It is a festival that we can call our own and which Kampung Semadang folks are proud about it because we create and develop it to what it is today,” Robert said.
He said that this year’s festival saw greater participation from among the locals and the surrounding communities as well as foreign tourists including from Germany, Mauritius, China, Korea, Pakistan, and Indonesia who stayed overnight at homestays in the village.
Robert said for next year, promotion will be launched early to attract bigger participation for the bamboo rafting and kayak race.
“With a bigger site for the festival next year, I am optimistic that the turnout will be greater,” he added.
Meanwhile, in the fishing competition, Albert Royseon from Bau who caught three Ikan Baung won the first prize to bring home RM500 while Groka Anak Moos who caught two Ikan Baung and one Ikan Lampam won the second prize of RM300 and a trophy.
The third prize of RM200 and a trophy was won by Yanto Johog who caught one Ikan Tegadak and one Ikan Baung.
Kuching Division Agriculture Department officer, Mohidi Bidin flagged-off the fishing competition participated by more than 200 anglers held along the Semadang River.
Meanwhile, a university student in Kota Kinabalu, Jacqueline Ayong was crowned Miss Tagang Semadang 2017 on Saturday night.
She defeated 11 other contestants to win RM1,000, RM5,000 scholarship from UCSI University and a trophy.
Jacqueline, a Bidayuh lass from Kampung Simpok, Padawan was also voted Miss Tagang Popular and walked away with RM500 and a trophy.
First and second runner-up went to Viviana Lin Winston and Felicia Michelle Juran, respectively.
Viviana brought home RM700, RM3,000 scholarship and a trophy while Felicia received RM500, RM2,000 scholarship and a trophy.
Dr Jerip’s wife, Datin Lee Chia Fong and last year’s Miss Tagang, Cincilin Voon Tarah crowned the winners.
In the kayak race, Unimas One and Unimas Two teams won first and second place, respectively while in third place was Dasanrama Fire.
The bamboo rafting competition was won by Kampung Pain/Bojong team and the cooking competition was won by Doris Mapus, second placing went to Ronald Sideng while in third place was Vera Mamah; they each received RM300, RM200 and RM100, respectively.
