KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin has declared full support for the Sabah International Dragon Boat Race which is being organized by the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), adding that his ministry will provide it with necessary funding.
“We are very confident with their vast experience and capability, its organising committee which is led by Tan Sri T.C Goh, they would be able to bring us yet another great event. We would definitely give our full support to this event!” he said.
He also commended the organiser for introducing a new and additional feature to the race in the form of a “sunset run”, which he believed would allow Malaysians of various races to participate in the annual cultural sports event.
He added that he would personally encourage his staff to participate in the “sunset run”.
He said this during the courtesy call by the organising committee led by FCAS President, Tan Sri T.C Goh, on Thursday. Also in attendance were, Permanent Secretary of Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, Datuk Sr. Mohd Yusrie Abdullah, Noredah Othman, General Manager of Sabah Tourism Board, FCAS Deputy President cum organising committee chairman for the 7th FCAS Sabah International Dragon Boat Race, Datuk Susan Wong, FCAS Vice Presidents Datuk Chua Soon Ping, Kapitan Lim Vun Chan, Kapitan Fung Chun Fatt, Ng Young Wah, Treasurer-general Chen Ee Sheng, and Central Committee member Dato’ Seri Winston Liaw, among others.
The organising committee also invited Jafry to officiate at the “Sunset Beach Party” which will be held on 1 July, as well as to attend the official launch of the race cum finale by the Governor of Sabah, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, on 3 July.
After a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19 pandemic, the FCAS Sabah International Dragon Boat Race has made a comeback this year and it will be held from 1sr to 3rd July, at the Likas Bay here.
During the courtesy call, Jafry said he was excited that the dragon boat race is finally making a comeback this year as, since the pandemic hit, there has not been many such grand event hosted in Sabah; he was thus hopeful that the dragon boat race would attract more tourists and dragon boat race enthusiasts to come to Sabah, and this would in return help rejuvenate the state tourism and economy.
He thus reiterated that the state government and his ministry would continue to give their full support to the organising of this event.
Meanwhile, during the courtesy call, on behalf of FCAS, Goh thanked Jafry for his support. He was also glad to note that besides the Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, the event has also received support from the Governor of Sabah, the Chief Minister, State Youth and Sports Ministry, Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), Sabah Marine Department, Sabah police, and the Fire and Rescue Department.
He also acknowledged that the state government’s allocation of funding has significantly helped ease the financial burden of organising the said event which involved huge amounts of expenses.
The key events for the dragon boat race include the “Sunset Beach Party” on 1 July, the preliminary round of the race (which starts in the morning) and the Sunset Run, in the evening, on 2 July, and the grand opening ceremony cum finale, on 3 July, which will be officiated at by the Governor of Sabah, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.-pr/BNN
