Selangau and Durin fests on the cards again this year

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Sempurai Petrus Ngelai

SIBU: The Selangau and Durin Festivals will be held again this year following good response to their previous staging, Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai said.

“The rafting challenge – the signature event of  ‘Pesta Selangau’ —  has become the main attraction for the festival.

“I am very sure the rafting challenge can attract more participants from outside Sibu Division,” he said in a recent interview.

Urging his council’s Community Development, Sports, Culture and Youth Standing Committee to make early preparations, he said it is to ensure quality programmes are organised during the festivals.

“In addition, there is a need for more extensive promotion for the festivals to lure bigger crowds and participants,” he added.

The council chairman also advised the organising committee to engage local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), schools and local leaders so as to get more manpower and new ideas.

Furthermore, the organising committee needs to be more self-reliant in getting funding through advertisements and sponsorships, he suggested.

On another matter, he urged his councillors to hold meet-the-people sessions along with current community programmes like health talks.

“To me, meet-the-people-session is important for us to get feedback and interact with the community,” Sempurai said, pointing out the importance of feedback for the council to improve its delivery system and update its key performance indicators (KPIs).

“This programme is also part of our individual councillor’s KPI measurement in accordance with the Ministry (of Local Government and Housing) ‘Turun Padang’ and community engagement concept,” he added.