By Magdeline Rogers
KUCHING: The inaugural Batang Ai Festival 2019 will be held from March 22 to 24 at the Hydro Jetty with a few highlights.
Batang Ai assemblyman the festival patron who is also Assistant Minister of Industrial Development Malcolm Mussen Lamoh said the event is organised by various committees comprising Sri Aman Entrepreneur Development Council (MPUB), Lubok Antu District Office, Lubuk Antu District Council and also done in collaboration with Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development (MIED) Sarawak.
“Various programmes and activities have been planned for the festival. Among them are entrepreneur programmes such as local entrepreneur showcase, talk and info booths,” Mussen said.
Deputy Chief Minister who is also Industrial and Entrepreneur Development Minister as well as Urban Development and Natural Resources Second Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan will launch the programme on March 23.
The festival will give the local entrepreneurs to exhibit their goods at the Sarawak Entrepreneurs’ Showcase – a platform created for them to promote, sell and market their respective products at the festival and gain exposure for their businesses.
“The ‘Pocket Talk Usahawan’ and info booths will bring together all entrepreneur development agencies to promote and offer their services to local residents and entrepreneurs.
“The Sarawak Kitchen, which will give festival goers an array of food to choose from, also features the signature dishes particular to the area. This programme hopes to give the local economy a boost,” Mussen added.
The three-day festival will also include activities such as water sports, singing competition, stage performances, and a flea market.
The main highlight of the festival will be the inaugural Miss Batang Ai Festival 2019 (MBAF2019) beauty pageant.
“It will also be a key attraction with finalists lighting up the festival stage during their Talent Show, and participating in various activities as they compete for the grand title and subsidiary titles and prizes with a total value of RM 66,000 in cash and in kind,” Mussen pointed out.
The pageant took flight today at 11 Ridgeway with an audition that would shortlist between 15 to 20 contestants for the finals.
Mussen said the finalists will undergo a four-day boot camp and feature in several festival events leading to the grand finale on March 24.
“Activities during the boot camp include coaching sessions that will train finalists in public speaking, grooming, catwalk and motivation.
“They will also take part in a traditional cooking competition, perform community outreach, and test their physical and mental resilience in a series of extreme activity challenges such as scaling a 35-foot wall and clearing an obstacle course on the resort ground specially tailored for this pageant.
During the festival, finalists will also get to show their various talents in a Talent Show that will take place on the Grand Stage on March 22 starting 7pm.
On March 23, they will be competing for the best catwalk as they will parade Resort Wear from the Fashion Design Competition during the event called “Sunset Runway”. This will take place at the Poolside, Aiman Batang Ai Resort & Retreat beginning 5pm.
He disclosed that the Grand Finale, which will be held on March 24, 7pm at Dewan Kompleks Sukan Lubok Antu, will also see the attendance of various celebrities and artistes including Maya Karin, Miss World Malaysia 2018 Larissa Ping, Chopie Cakap & Napio Hatta (from Era Sarawak), Kiyoshi from Hitz FM and Melissa Francis.
Awang Tengah is expected to grace the grand finale.
Around 800 people are expected to attend comprising government officials, media practitioners, professionals from related industry (fashion, beauty & health, talent agency), and community leaders.
“In addition to the title, tiara, trophy and a cash prize of RM3,000, the new Miss Batang Ai 2019 also becomes the Aiman Batang Ai Resort & Retreat’s Ambassador for one year, promoting the Resort as well the Aiman brand, ” Mussen said.
The sponsors of Miss Batang Ai Festival 2019 are include Pua Heritage (Platinum Sponsor), who is sponsoring garments worth RM40,000, to be worn by the finalists at the grand finale;
Hannan Medispa (Gold Sponsor), who are sponsoring RM 25,000 worth of their products such as facial treatment & skincare as prizes;
Clarel’s Malaysia (Silver Sponsor), who is sponsoring health supplement worth RM13,000 as prizes; MO Sarawak (Bronze Sponsor), who sponsors garments worth RM 10,000 for attending celebrities Hida-Yeat Parfum (Bronze Sponsor), who is sponsoring perfumes worth RM6,000 for the prizes; Printing Genius (Bronze Sponsor), who is sponsoring T-shirts worth RM2,800 for the contestants; TGF Cosmetic (Bronze Sponsor), will be sponsoring cosmetic products worth RM2,000for the prizes.
