Two new giant kite mascots unveiled for this year’s Borneo International Kite Festival

BINTULU (Sept 25): Two new giant kite mascots were unboxed today for the 17th Borneo International Kite Festival (BIKF) here.

The new mascots, a tiger and a bear, each six metres tall, were specially brought in from France this year to join the gorilla mascot that adorned last year’s BIKF.

These three giant mascots will accompany local and international kite flyers from 28 countries throughout the festival, creating a spectacular display in the skies of Bintulu.

The occasion was graced by the presence of Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) deputy chairman Dato Haidar Khan Asghar Khan, BDA general manager Datu Muhamad Yakup Kari, and deputy special administrative officer from the Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency, Suhaili Mohamed.

When met by reporters at the kite flying site, staged on Lasar Kenyalang at the Old Bintulu Airport site, Yakup shared his enthusiasm for the festival.

He hoped the two new giant kites alongside last year’s gorilla giant kite would be able to captivate the interest of children, similar to last year’s edition.

“BDA has an agreement with Unicef to create spaces that encourage children to participate, visit, observe and learn about kites,” he said, adding that a kite-making workshop for schoolchildren was also held near the main stage.

Meanwhile, Suhaili praised the organisation of the international event, noting its benefits for the local community and BDA.

“Although it is held once a year, the event is sustainable throughout,” he remarked, congratulating BDA for the success in hosting the international event, which is held until Sept 29.