MBKS plans phased upgrades to event facilities

KUCHING: The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) is planning phased upgrades to its event facilities to better accommodate festivals and meet the demands of international events.

Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said drawings had been prepared, although the proposal was still awaiting the go-ahead.

“We are not going to do it all at once, but one phase at a time, because we need to upgrade this area,” he told reporters after officiating at the Sarawak International Tattoo and Cultural Festival at the MBKS Community Hall here today.

The repeated installation and dismantling of temporary canopies was among the practical issues MBKS wanted to address, alongside difficulties securing canopies during major events.

“When a festival or an event becomes an international event, you need to make sure it is up to the international standard,” he said.

Wee stressed that established festivals required continuous improvements, with a recognisable event brand bringing the responsibility to raise standards each year.

He cited this year’s Kuching Festival, which gained recognition through its appearance on Pepsi cans featuring the city’s cat imagery.

Turning to the festival’s food offerings, he emphasised the need to develop creative interpretations of traditional cuisine while preserving the original dishes as a cultural reference.

The same principle applied to other forms of Sarawak heritage, with innovation helping introduce traditional designs and practices to wider markets, he added.

“Creativity is very important, but make sure that you keep the original,” he said.