Mooncake Festival joy at Gaya Street, Foh Sang
Kota Kinabalu: The annual Mooncake Festival celebrations will be a grand event and held in two areas – Gaya Street and Foh Sang – this year, said Luyang Assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe.
The Mooncake Festival programme will be held at Gaya Street on Sept 29 and Foh Sang on Oct 5.
“The event will be co-organised by the Kota Kinabalu MP’s Office, Likas and Luyang Assemblyman Office, City Hall, Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Satta) and United Sabah Chinese Communities Association (USCCA).
He said this during a press conference at City Hall, Thursday.
Phoong said the main organiser in charge for the Gaya Street celebrations is USCCA while Satta will be in charge of the Luyang celebrations.
He said it has been years since the last time the Mooncake Festival was celebrated on a large scale.
“The stage performances and entertainment side in Luyang will be handled by Satta while the festival night market will be handled by City Hall.
“Information on other aspects of the festival, including the renting of stalls will be handled by City Hall.”
He said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal will be invited to officiate both events.
Phoong said the Gaya Stree Mooncake Carnival will include a lantern procession and also a night market.
On why Satta was handling the Foh Sang celebrations, Phoong said it has always been his hope that Satta would help promote Foh Sang to Chinese tourists visiting Kota Kinabalu.
“Since the KK tourism industry is booming, we hope they can bring a little bit more tourists to visit Foh Sang as well to experience the local Chinese lifestyle and cuisine there.”
Meanwhile, USCCA President Datuk Susan Wong said the Gaya Street event on Sept 29 event will feature the Big Autumn Tanlung (lantern) competition which is divided into four groups.
“These are the primary school category, secondary school category, a category among our 15 Chinese community associations and the last is the open category with attractive cash prizes for the winners,” she said.
Wong added that the main event will be a parade along Gaya Street at night to entertain the public with other activities being singing and dancing performances on the stage.
“As the event is to celebrate the Mooncake Festival, there will be a mooncake cutting event.”
Satta President Dato Seri Winston Liaw called on the public to support the event at Foh Sang.
“There will be a variety of entertainment activities such as shows and also lantern competition as well and is also the time to share the Chinese culture to all.”
Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai said City Hall is happy to get the opportunity to do the project together with the celebration co-organisers to make Kota Kinabalu a more interesting and liveable city for its residents and visitors.
Also present was Likas Assemblyman Tan Lee Fat. – Neil Chan
Source: Daily Express Online
