Programme to learn more about history of Gaya Street

KOTA KINABALU: Let celebrate and learn more about our history, culture and community at Bonding with Gaya Street 2, a two-day event organized by the City Hall and Empowering Through Community History (ETCH) held in conjunction with the celebration of Sabah’s 50th Year of Independence within Malaysia.

Bonding with Gaya Street 2, themed ‘Milestone in History’, showcases a line up of events and activities on September 6 and 7 from 9am to 10pm, including exhibitions, games, movie, music, arts, dance and more.

The opening ceremony of the event will be held at 9am, Lintasan Deasoka on the first day while the closing ceremony is on September 7.

The event is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment.

Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir, who was represented by the City Hall director-general Datuk Yeo Boon Hai in a press conference yesterday, said the objective of the programmes was to celebrate the history, culture and community on Gaya Street, which was one of the oldest streets in Kota Kinabalu so that the younger generation could appreciate the history of the street.

“I hope that people in Kota Kinabalu, as well as tourists could take the opportunity to celebrate this programme together at Gaya Street,” Abidin said in his speech.

Meanwhile, Yeo stressed the importance of learning the history of a place, as what he did in Bonding with Gaya Street 1.

“We must know our origin, where we come from.

“You have to know Gaya Street to love Gaya Street.”

Yeo said that he recently had a meeting on the housing problems and squatters in Likas, and an assemblyman explained to him the history of Kampung Likas, how the people have lived there for 30 or 40 years.

“This means that in execution, regulations aside, we must have a certain level of compassion on people.”

Besides a historical exhibition by Richard Nelson along Gaya Street and Sabah Tourism Board, the event also features highlights such as Sabahan artist-architect Hong Yi’s (Red) art presentation inspired by Gaya Street, as well as award-winning photographer Louis Pang’s special Gaya street historical themed photo booth and photography workshop, live art performances and workshop by Generator.

The organizer has also engaged talented solo acoustic guitar player Roger Wang to perform with friends on the first night, dance variation by 51DC, performance by Hakka singer Tian Long, performance by musician and entertainer on YouTube Adam Tambakau, and Sabah’s very first international deejay (DJ), DJ Fine China to spin and celebrate the closing of Bonding with Gaya Street 2.

Besides the performances by local artistes, the programme will feature Games of Yesteryears such as ‘Main Lastik’, ‘Main Batu’ and Mini Treasure Hunt on the second day.

Attractive prizes offered for the games and treasure hunt include Samsung phone, cameras, laptop and food vouchers for the winners.

Participation forms can be obtained at all Party Play Lifestyle Cafe outlets and the registration deadline is before 10am, September 7, 2013.

Registration fees for the Games of Yesteryears and Mini Treasure Hunt are RM10 per person and RM20 per person respectively.

For more information of the events log on to Facebook page www.facebook.com/ETCH or contact +60168803336 Masley Yahya.

Also present at the press conference were ETCH chairperson Datin Fazar Arif, organizing chairman of Bonding with Gaya Street 2, Dominic Chung and Research and Coordination Department director Junainah Abbie.

Source: Borneo Post