Bau Cultural Night 2024 a vibrant showcase of cultural unity, celebration

BAU (Aug 8): The Bau Cultural Night 2024, held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations, was a vibrant showcase of cultural unity and celebration.

The inaugural event, hosted at the Bau Civic Centre last night, was organised in collaboration with the China Consul General’s Office, Bau District Office, Bau District Council, and local community leaders.

It saw an overwhelming turnout of around 700 attendees, including special guests from the People’s Republic of China.

The event transformed the centre into a vibrant tapestry of cultural celebration and diplomatic significance, highlighting the enduring bond between the two nations through a blend of traditional performances and formal diplomacy.

The night’s cultural journey commenced around 7pm with a dynamic 24 Season Drums performance by pupils from SJK Chung Hua Bau.

The rhythmic drumming set a vibrant tone for the evening, followed by the traditional Rasa Sayang dance, which captivated the audience with its graceful movements, performed by the same enthusiastic pupils.

As the evening progressed, the stage came alive with the Sigar Tolak Bala dance by Tiramuok Emas from Bau, showcasing the region’s deep cultural roots.

The energy and elegance continued with the Zapin Sebat Dance, performed by the Malay Community City Dancers of Bau, highlighting the diversity and harmony of Malaysia’s cultural landscape.

The audience was later treated to spectacular performances by the Yunnan Honghe State Cultural Troupe. Their display of traditional Chinese performing arts was a fitting finale to a night celebrating not only cultural diversity but also the deepening of international friendships.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep expressed his pride in hosting the event.

Despite being organised on short notice, the support from the local community was phenomenal, he said.

“We have about 700 people here. We ensured that every NGO or community leader was part of it. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event.

“Although our stage was smaller than usual for such presentations, we welcomed the Consul General and his team warmly. The show was fantastic, making us feel like we were in China,” he told a press conference after officiating at the event.

In this regard, Henry thanked Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching, Xing Weiping, for bringing the event to Bau.

He highlighted the long-standing relationship between the Chinese community and Bau due to the gold mining industry.

“The majority of people here are Hakka, and maintaining this bond is crucial for continuing commerce, business relationships, friendship, and cultural exchange,” he added.

Reflecting on the 50-year relationship between Malaysia and China, Henry noted that Malaysia is one of China’s biggest trading partners, with significant investments and more to come.

“Our Premier mentioned that more major Chinese corporations are interested in investing in Sarawak, particularly due to the establishment of the methanol industry and other areas.

“So, these are the relationships we want to maintain. If they (China) see that we are friendly, they will certainly feel welcome to invest here,” he added.