Lion Dance Fest paints good image on Sabah: Masidi
Kota Kinabalu: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the organising of the 2017 Chinese New Year Dragon, Unicorn and Lion Dance Festival is proof of the unity of the Chinese community, tolerance and brotherhood of Sabahans.
He said in other parts of the country it is seldom that an entire clan join together celebrating a festival and it was something the other states can imitate at national level.
Masidi said the festival organised by the United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu (USCCAKK) is an advantage to the tourism industry, adding that tourists, especially the non-Chinese, need not to go to China to see such performances but only come to Sabah.
“It will paint a good image on Sabah as it shows the spirit of tolerance and brotherhood of Sabahans who come from different races and religion,” he said.
Masidi said this during a courtesy visit held by the USCCAKK representatives led by President Datuk Susan Wong.
He said tourists from China will feel welcomed to Sabah by the festival as the Chinese culture is also widely practised here.
He noted that there are 171 international direct flights to Kota Kinabalu weekly and among them, 76 are from China, while there are a total of 400 domestic flights to Kota Kinabalu weekly.
Masidi has been invited as a special guest to the drum beating opening ceremony of the Festival on Jan 14 (Saturday), at 2.30pm, at the Likas Sports Complex, the opening ceremony of which will be officiated by the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
Among those in the courtesy call included Deputy President Bong Chong Shui, Vice President Datuk Wong Hai Ming, Vice President Chua Kui Ting, Vice President-cum- Organising Chairman Soo Shau Kiong, Secretary General Datuk Wong Yit Ming, committee members Dr Ling Fii Yeu, Dennis Gan, Ong Lee Chien and Baby Gan.
Admission is free with a series of exciting performances starting at 1pm.
More than a hundred of dragon, unicorn and lion troupes will gather for the event and 30 will be selected for the challenging performance.
Source: Daily Express
