KOTA KINABALU:The annual Sabah International Dragon Boat Race which is making a comeback this year, after a two-year hiatus (due to Covid-19 pandemic), is receiving an overwhelming public response, said Tan Sri T.C Goh, President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS).
Goh who is also President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) cum Chairman of the race said, since it was reactivated recently, public response to both its main event (group participation) and its newly added side event of “sunset run” has been overwhelmingly beyond expectation.
“Notwithstanding the Covid-19 pandemic has reduced participation from overseas, but the response from our local participants has been very encouraging, and thus far we have 133 teams signed up for various categories of the dragon boat race, while the newly introduced “sunset run” too has received participation from several hundred runners, which exceeded our target,” he said.
He said this during the courtesy call on Datuk Noorliza Awang Alip, the Mayor of Kota Kinabalu City, by FCAS leaders and the organising committee for the race, on Tuesday, to brief her on the progress of the preparations for the said annual cultural sports event.
Also in attendance were, DBKK director-general Junainah Abbie, Datuk Susan Wong, FCAS Deputy President cum organising committee chairman for the 7th FCAS Sabah International Dragon Boat Race, FCAS Vice Presidents Datuk Chua Soon Ping, Kapitan Fung Chun Fatt, Ng Young Wah, and its youth chief, Chang Jeng Yung.
In her briefing, Wong especially touched on the need for the City Hall to ensure that public toilets located within the vicinity of the race venue are well maintained during the event, to cater to the public, tourists and the participants. She explained that this is important as, in order to save cost on lodging, many participants from outstations will be camping on site, hence they need to use public toilets to wash up.
To this, Noorliza assured that DBKK would do its best to provide the necessary support, especially to extend the operating hours of all the public toilets within the vicinity, besides deploying sufficient manpower to keep the venue clean during the race.
DBKK will also be issuing public notice to inform the public of the temporary closure of the cycling lanes along the Likas Bay, during the event. She also promised to attend the finale of the dragon boat race, on 3 July.
The 2022/7th FCAS International Dragon Boat Race will be held from 1 – 3 July, at the Likas Bay, and will culminate with the final races on 3 July, which will be officiated by the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin. Meanwhile, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin will be officiating at the “Sunset Beach Party” on 1 July, and the inaugural “Sunset Run” will be flagged off by Sabah Youth and Sport Minister Datuk Ellron Angin, on 2 July, at 4pm. And at noon time of the same day, Huang Shifang, the new Chinese Consul General in Kota Kinabalu, will be officiating at the “Rice Dumpling cum Sabah Cuisines Tasting Fair”.
