Dance troupes from 15 countries to perform at 5th Sabah International Forklore Festival on July 23

KOTA KINABALU: The 5th Sabah International Folklore Festival has received overwhelming response from the people of Sabah which indicates the success of the festival, said Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Masidi Manjun.

According to Masidi, almost all the tables for the main show on July 23 have been sold and it will be graced by the attendance of the Sabah Head of State, Tun Datuk Ahmadshah Abdullah.

He said that Sabah is fortunate to have the performers flying all the way to the state capital and expressed his appreciation to them for accepting the state government’s invitation to join in the festival.

“I think all of us are winners in our own right,” said Masidi yesterday while addressing the delegates at a welcoming dinner yesterday.

Also present at the dinner were Sabah Tourism Board chairman, Datuk Tengku Adlin Zainal, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment permanent secretary, Datuk Suzanna Liaw and Sabah Cultural Board chairman, Datuk Wences Angang.

“While other parts of the world are engulfed in wars and problems, all the countries that are represented here are willing to forget about the problems and have come to Kota Kinabalu to send a very strong message to the world that we all want peace,” said Masidi.

“The friendship that we are going to create at this festival would always be felt by other countries that are having the problems,” he added.

A total of 300 performers from various dance troupes in 15 countries will be in the state capital to share their vibrant and unique cultures through dances and performances while exchanging goodwill with local ethnic folk dancers.

Masidi also thanked several countries that have consistently returned to the festival, namely Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines who were the previous winners of the festival last year. He also welcomed several newcomers to the festival such as Uzbekistan, Latvia, Romania and Taiwan. The other participating countries are India, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Libya, Egypt, Sri Lanka and Singapore.

The festival will kick off on July 23 with the prime show at Magellan Sutera Harbour followed by two days of competition at the Sabah Cultural Center in Penampang on July 24 and 25.