Saturday 1 March 2014

Malaysia: East Wind Festival 2014 to attract more than 10,000 visitors

East Wind Festival 2014 which will be included in Visit Malaysia Year (VMY2014) for the first time this year will become an annual event to attract more tourists to the state. The event will be held in the Perlis – penninsular Malaysia’s northernmost state.

Chairman of the State Tourism Committee, Abdul Jamil Saad said the festival had its own attractions and was unique as it had not been offered by any other state.

“Held for the first time in 2011, it has received encouraging response and the state government has announced since last year that it would be held for the second time in Kampung Permatang Keriang, Sanglang on March 1 and 2.

“The festival, which bears the concept of the traditional way of life of the farmers after the harvest season, is expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors, including those from Thailand,” Abdul Jamil told reporters in Kangar on February 26.

He said the projection was based on the interesting events which received good response, such as the singing competition of the bulbul birds and the traditional kite contest. He added that other events to be held during the Wind Festival include padi field fishing, duck catching, buffalo race and decorated buffalo contest.

He added that the festival was jointly organised by the Perlis Culture and Arts Department (JKKN) with the state government, Perlis Tourism and Culture Office and 13 government agencies.

Abdul Jamil said visitors could also take part in traditional games like the congkak, batu tujuh and sepak raga as well as watch the making of crafts like batik drawing, making padi crackers, dangai and peknga. He added that 18 booths would be set up to sell various products including from the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), the Social Development Agency (Kemas), the Fisheries Department and the Agriculture Department.

The Perlis Artist Association, the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) and the State Farmers Association will also participate in an exhibition to be held during the festival.

According to Abdul Jamil, entertainment programmes will also be held in the evenings including a Ghazal Party and a special appearance by Malaysian artiste Datuk M. Daud Kilau.

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