International Dragon Boat Race, S’wak Regatta to heat up Kuching Waterfront

KUCHING (Oct 15): There will be a hive of activities at Kuching Waterfront amidst the annual International Dragon Boat Race taking place this Oct 25-27, as well as the Sarawak Regatta from Nov 1 to 3.

Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the organisers had invited Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to witness the opening ceremony for the International Dragon Boat Race on Oct 26, and also to officiate at the closing ceremony of the Sarawak Regatta on Nov 3.

“During this programme, there were also various events involving musical performance organised by the Sarawak Arts Council, as well as handicraft sales and booths hosted by Sarawak Kitchen held throughout the festival.

“People, especially around Kuching, are invited to attend so as to enliven the events,” he told reporters when met after leading a courtesy call on Wan Junaidi and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi at Astana Negeri here today.

On the International Dragon Boat Race, Abdul Karim said it would involve the participation of 60 teams representing 21 countries.

Moreover, he informed that this year’s cash prize for the ‘Raja Sungai’ (King of the River) of the Sarawak Regatta would be RM30,000.

Additionally, he said the Head of State had agreed to officiate at the opening ceremony of the Sarawak Drum Festival 2204, as well as the finale of the Sarawak Malay Drum Competition to be held at Kuching Waterfront this Nov 1, with the curtain-raiser at 8pm.