Ting (10th right), joined by Wee (on his right), Izkandar (on his left), (from seventh right) Yong, Lau and others pose for a photo session. – Photo by Peter Boon
SIBU (Dec 7): The iconic Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang Phase 1 here was turned into a fairytale Christmas wonderland after the lighting-up ceremony on Friday night.
The brightly lit Christmas trees and majestic castle spruced up the festive ambience, as the yuletide draws closer.
Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting officiated the Christmas Festival and lighting-up ceremony, and said the event aims to foster community spirit and attract local tourists.
“It is a pleasure for us (SMC) to organise such an event for everyone in Sibu and everyone in the central region (of Sarawak).
Ting uses a wand to symbolically to officiate at Christmas Festival and lighting-up ceremony. – Photo by Peter Boon
“We hope you will come celebrate Christmas with us. It is also a chance for Sibu to do community building. Since we have many diverse communities of different religions and faiths in Sibu, it is a time for us to come together at the end of the year,” he said.
He added there would be a countdown on Dec 31, and called on the public to join in to usher in the new year.
A ‘Disney’ performance to spruce up the festive ambience. – Photo by Peter Boon
Meanwhile, in his opening remarks, councillor Simon Wee said the lighting-up ceremony marked the start of Sibu’s annual Christmas Festival.
Wee, who is the organising chairman of the festival, said the aptly-themed ‘A Fairy Tale Christmas’ event depicts the enchanting transformation of the Sibu town square into a ‘fairyland’.
“We hope with all these elements put together, our event would help attract more people, especially tourists, to Sibu.
“It is my fervent wish to see more of our future events become a magnet for tourists to visit Sibu, and we hope to see lots of domestic tourists converge in Sibu to enjoy the Christmas vibe we created tonight,” he said.
Folks from all walks of life came to Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang Phase 1 for the lighting-up ceremony, with many spotted taking photographs near the castle which was ‘snowing’.
Folks from all walks of life gather for the Christmas Festival and lighting-up ceremony. – Photo by Peter Boon
Also present were SMC deputy chairman Mohammed Abdullah Izkandar Roseley, SMC secretary Yong Ing Chu, Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference (SCAC) Methodist Church president Dr Lau Hui Ming and St John’s Anglican Church vicar, the Venerable Jose Jol.
