KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin has agreed to be the guest-of-honour and to officiate at the 8th FCAS International Dragon Boat Race, which will be held at the Likas Bay here, from 16 to 18 June.
The said cultural event is also the key programme for the 38th National Cultural Festival.
In a statement issued today, Tan Sri T.C Goh, President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) disclosed that Tun Juhar promised this during the courtesy call on him by FCAS leadership cum Organising Committee for the said event, at Istana Seri Kinabalu, today. The courtesy call was aimed chiefly to invite Tun Juhar to attend and to officiate at the finale of the dragon boat race. Besides this, the Organising Committee also briefed Tun Juhar on the progress of its preparations.
Also in attendance were Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen, FCAS Deputy President cum Organising Chairman for the 8th FCAS International Dragon Boat Race, her deputy cum FCAS Vice President, Kapitan Fung Chun Fatt, FCAS Vice Presidents Datuk Chua Soon Ping, Kapitan LimVun Chan and Ng Young Wah, Secretary-general Datuk Yong Soo Pin, and Treasurer-general Chen Ee Sheng.
During the courtesy call, Goh thanked Tun Juhar for his continuous support for preservation and promotion of Chinese culture and traditions, as well as his wise, open-minded and caring governance, all these years.
Meanwhile, Tun Juhar also expressed his support and commended FCAS leadership for its commitment and dedication of organising the annual cultural sport event which is significant towards promoting national unity and cultural harmony.
Goh also disclosed that earlier FCAS leadership had paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor to brief the latter on the progress of the said event. Hajiji also agreed to attend the event as the Special Guest and to keep Tun Juhar accompanied during the event. Besides this, Hajiji also promised that the State government will fully support and provide necessary funding of the organising of the event.
Prior to this, Goh also led the FCAS leadership and organising committee to pay courtesy call on Huang Shifang, the Chinese Consul General in Kota Kinabalu, during which the latter gladly accepted the invitation of the organising committee to be the Special Guest for the event, as well as to officiate at the ‘Dumplings Booths’ competition.
During an interview by RTM after paying courtesy call to the Head of State, Goh expressed confidence that this year’s FCAS International Dragon Boat Race will be a grandeur one and it is expected to attract more participants, spectators, and tourists.
He explained that this was because the said event will be a key programme for the 38th National Cultural Festival, which is also being hosted by FCAS.-pr/BNN
