Business and heritage go together: Helmi

KUCHING: Young traders and entrepreneurs should be given greater opportunities to develop their ideas and talents while helping keep Kuching’s heritage relevant to future generations.

Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) Mayor Datuk Hilmy Othman said festivals such as the 23rd Kuching Inter-Cultural Mooncake Festival provided an important platform for the younger generation to participate, create, interpret and innovate while learning from the experience and traditions passed down by previous generations.

“Festivals like this should not only celebrate our heritage, but also provide opportunities for the younger generation to participate, create, interpret and innovate,” he said during the event at Carpenter Street here on Tuesday night (Sept 22).

Hilmy added that young people should be given the space and encouragement to showcase their talents and entrepreneurial spirit, adding that this would help ensure Kuching’s heritage remained vibrant, relevant and meaningful for generations to come.

Hilmy (4th from left) receives an appreciation gift from the chairman of Kuching Old Market Community Association cum the organising chairman of Kuching Inter-Cultural Mooncake Festival Kapitan Lim Chuan Chan (5th from right).

Hilmy, visiting some of the stalls during the walkabout.

“The festival also reflected the importance of preserving the character of Kuching Old Town while ensuring historic areas such as Carpenter Street remained vibrant, welcoming and relevant to younger generations,” he stated.

Hilmy also commended Kuching Old Town Kejiranan Mesra (KJM) for its continued support in strengthening the relationship between DBKU, the business community and residents within the historic part of the city.

“The 23rd edition of the festival had grown beyond a celebration of mooncakes, lanterns and the full moon, becoming a platform that brought together families, friends, neighbours and communities from different cultural and religious backgrounds,” he said.

According to Hilmy, the spirit of the Mooncake Festival, particularly reunion, togetherness and gratitude, resonated strongly with Kuching’s diverse community.

“What makes this festival truly special is that it is not celebrated by one community alone.

“People from different races, cultures and beliefs come together, walk the same streets, enjoy the same performances and share in the joy of the occasion,” he said.

He added that such festivals demonstrated Kuching’s spirit of diversity, mutual respect and friendship, while providing opportunities for communities to interact and strengthen their relationships.

Hilmy also expressed appreciation to the Kuching Old Market Community Association, organising committee, volunteers, traders, performers, sponsors and community leaders for their efforts in making the annual celebration possible.

He said the continued success of the festival reflected Kuching’s ability to preserve its rich heritage while allowing new generations to contribute to its development.

“Our strength lies in our ability to live together in peace, harmony and understanding, while ensuring that every generation has the opportunity to contribute to the continued growth and vibrancy of our city,” he said.

Hilmy hoped festivals such as the Kuching Inter-Cultural Mooncake Festival would continue to serve as a bridge between communities and as a platform for younger generations to learn, contribute and carry forward the traditions that make Kuching unique.

He said this would help ensure Kuching remained not only beautiful and progressive, but also warm, inclusive and united.