DayakDaily celebrates 10 talented writers at ‘Gastronomy and I’ prize-giving ceremony

First prize winners, Jasmine Tan (left) for the Adult Category and Mikhael Lewi for the Youth Category at the prize presentation ceremony at Imperial Hotel on July 6, 2024.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 6: DayakDaily’s second annual writing competition, themed “Gastronomy and I: My Favourite Dish” concluded with a successful prize-giving ceremony for 10 winners, officiated by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan at the Imperial Hotel today.

This year, DayakDaily invited 20 shortlisted participants, with 10 emerging as winners in the writing competition held from April 5 to June 3.

A total of 266 entries were received, comprising 170 in the Adult Category and 96 in the Youth Category.

In the Adult Category (19 years old and above), Jasmine Tan Sze Min from Kuching won the Gold Award, earning a cash prize of RM3,500, a trophy, a certificate, and a three-day, two-night (3D2N) voucher at the Imperial Hotel.

Moy Chee Ban took the Silver Award with a cash prize of RM2,500, while Lee Woon Jiun claimed the Bronze Award with RM1,500. Paula Chung Zie Hung and Jason Teo Jia Hong received consolation prizes of RM500 each. All winners also received a trophy and a certificate.

Snowdan (third right) presenting the mock cheque to Jasmine Tan during the writing competition prize-giving ceremony at Imperial Hotel Kuching on July 6, 2024.

Snowdan (centre) and other distinguished guests together with ‘Gastronomy and I: My Favourite Dish’ writing competition (Adult Category) winners during the prize-giving event at Imperial Hotel on July 6, 2024.

In the Youth Category, Mikhael Lewi Mackie from SMK Bandar Sibu won first place, receiving a cash prize of RM2,500, a trophy, a certificate, and a three-day, two-night (3D2N) voucher at the Imperial Hotel.

Claire Chen Ching Yuan secured second place with a cash prize of RM1,500, and Christian Richardson Donald was the third-place winner, receiving RM1,000. Consolation prizes of RM200 each went to Marie Jane Luwen Mathew Vanyui and David Volka Jim. All Youth Category winners also received a trophy and a certificate.

Sherrina (second right) presenting the mock cheque to Mikhael, witnessed by Snowdan (third right) during the writing competition prize-giving ceremony at Imperial Hotel Kuching on July 6, 2024.

Snowdan (fifth left) and other distinguished guests together with the ‘Gastronomy and I: My Favourite Dish’ (Adult Category) winners during the prize-giving event at a Imperial Hotel on July 6, 2024.

Snowdan (back row, centre) and Sherrina (back row, third right) in a photo with the winners of DayakDaily’s ‘Gastronomy and I: My Favourite Dish’ writing competition during the prize-giving ceremony at Imperial Hotel, Kuching on July 6, 2024.

Also present were Permanent Secretary to the Ministry Datu Sherrina Hussaini, Pertubuhan Wartawan Bebas Kuching (Pewarta) president Peter Sibon, Imperial Hotel Kuching sales and marketing director Irene Tan and DayakDaily chief editor Lian Cheng.

The competition was organised by DayakDaily, sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts and supported by the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and Imperial Hotel Kuching. — DayakDaily