SIBU: After two years’ hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Selangau Festival is now back again with improvement in its seven major programmes.
“It will take place from July 27 to 30,” revealed Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) chairman, Sempurai Petrus Ngelai at a press conference held at the SRDC meeting room in Wisma Sanyan here yesterday.
According to him, the 4th edition of the Selangau Festival will be different, especially in terms of the prizes offered for the programmes, namely, the raft challenge, the beauty queen competition, strongman, karaoke, fun run, darts and futsal.
“We have increased the prizes because we want to attract more participants from Kuching, Sibu Bintulu, and Miri. This year, we are grateful to have received sufficient funds.
“What is more interesting is that this year, we also invited our friends from the Kota Tinggi Johor District Council whom we visited during a study tour recently.
“This is an example of us opening SRDC and our festival to outsiders. We also told them about the festival,” he explained.
Sempurai also revealed that Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas had been invited to officate at the opening ceremony on July 27.
“Meanwhile, the closing ceremony on July 30 will be officiated by Minister in the Premier’s Department, Datuk John Sikie Tayai,” he said.
Sempurai also shared that the council would discuss with the relevant parties the traffic flow and parking spaces.
“We all know that we experienced severe traffic congestion during the last Selangau Festival. It is a good sign because the response was very encouraging, but we need to discuss with the relevant authorities how to deal with the traffic so that this problem does not recur,” he explained.
Apart from that, he also assured that SRDC would discuss with the Sibu Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) adequate water pressure throughout the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the organising chairman, Councillor Henry Kanyan Vincent Rawing said this year’s theme was ‘Selangau Pegari’ (Selangau shines bright).
“The festival will boost the economy in Selangau, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
For accommodation, he said the organisers would discuss with the Tuai Rumah (headmen) who were willing and ready to provide accommodation to those coming from outside Selangau.
“We know that accommodation in Selangau is not enough. We have identified several longhouses to be used as special homestays for the four-day programme. This will promote longhouses in the area, “he explained.
Henry added SRDC would be holding a roadshow to promote the festival.
“The roadshow will start from Sibujaya to Stapang and then to Selangau,” he added.
Also present were SRDC deputy chairman, Wong Ching Yong, and others.
