KUCHING: A New Year’s Eve celebration was held at Stadium Perpaduan Kuching tonight to cap off 2020 and welcome the New Year.
The celebration, held from 10.45pm, included pre-event performances by local artistes and was attended by about 1,000 people.
The pre-programme, which started around 8pm, kicked off with performances prepared by Sarawak Arts Council and the Sarawak State Symphony Orchestra (Sons).
The event, which was scaled down from the grandeur of yesteryears, was implemented under stringent standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the Health Ministry and the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).
According to the tentative programme, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari was scheduled to deliver his address via a pre-recorded video.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was also expected to attend the programme.
Earlier this week, the Asajaya assemblyman said the New Year’s Eve celebration, albeit scaled down, would offer non-stop musical and dance performances.
He said the programme would also showcase an orchestra performance, laser animation, fireworks show and an appearance by renowned singer Dayang Nurfaizah.
In the new normal, although mass gatherings were not encouraged, the spirit to welcome the New Year was still evident even when most people watched the event from the safety of their homes.
