KUCHING: The state government and the Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry will provide all the necessary support to ensure that What About Kuching (WAK) 2017 finds success and will become an iconic festival for the city in years to come.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah lauded the effort behind the community-initiated festival that celebrates the arts, culture and lifestyles of the people of Kuching.
“This is not something by the government. They (Kuchingites) came up with the proposal themselves,” he said during the official launch at the Old Courthouse compound yesterday.
Abdul Karim said that his ministry will give the festival its full support, and will try to put aside protocol to help the private sector realise their intentions with WAK 2017.
He acknowledged that Kuching can seem a little quiet during some parts of the year.
“It is the responsibility of Kuchingites to come up with ideas to make Kuching a happening place,” he said, adding that when people are flying in to attend events, the rest of the tourism industry benefits as well.
He also urged all talented Sarawakians to seize the opportunity and send in a proposal if they have something to share with Kuching.
“I have been informed that the organisers will be accepting proposals up to a week before the event.”
Also present were Kuching Resident Shukarmin Chasemon, festival coordinators Donald Tan and Marina Foo-Tan, Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) commissioner Datuk Wee Hong Seng, Sarawak Museum Department director Ipoi Datan, Plaza Merdeka Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Steve Ng, and other tourism industry personalities.
What About Kuching (WAK) 2017 celebrates the arts, culture and lifestyles of the people of Kuching by creating a platform to share the abundant talent here, and throughout the state of Sarawak.
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