Bekas Ahli Majlis kesal Pengerusi SMC lupa sejarah BCF

KUCHING-- Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) sebenarnya sudah 21 tahun dianjurkan sejak 2003, kata bekas Ahli Majlis Daerah Sibu Chambai Lindong.

Beliau yang juga Pengerusi Kesatuan Kebangsaan Dayak Sarawak (SDNU) Sibu berkata, sejarah sebenar penganjuran BCF adalah bermula pada 2003, selepas kejayaan penganjuran Borneo Tribal Extravaganza (BTE) 2002 diilhamkan oleh mendiang Datuk Robert Lau.

Jelasnya, acara itu bermula dari kejayaan penganjuran Gawai Food Fest 2001 atau Pesta Sibu yang kemudiannya dinamakan semula Karnival Gawai pada 2002 dan dianjurkan bersama oleh Majlis Perbandaran Sibu (SMC), Majlis Daerah Luar Bandar Sibu (SRDC) dan NGO Dayak tempatan. 

Karnival itu telah diadakan di Dataran Bandar Sibu dari 10 hingga 12 Mei 2002 di bawah Pengerusi Cr Chambai Lindong yang menyaksikan kejayaan yang lebih memberangsangkan daripada edisi 2001.

"Berikutan, dan diilhamkan oleh kejayaan besar Karnival Gawai, SMC di bawah Pengerusi mendiang Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew memutuskan untuk menganjurkan Borneo Tribal Extravaganza (BTE) dari 21 hingga 28 September, 2002. 

"BTE ini melibatkan semua komuniti, pelbagai NGO dan jabatan kerajaan di Sibu.

"Kemudian pada 2003, BTE telah ditukar nama kepada BCF pada 2003," katanya dalam hantaran di Facebooknya hari ini.

 Justeru, beliau memberitahu, kenyataan Pengerusi Majlis Perbandaran Sibu Clarence Ting dalam laporan media pada 11 Ogos lalu berkaitan fakta penganjuran BCF yang dikatakan memasuki edisi ke-20 adalah tidak tepat.

"Jangan kita lupa sejarah dan asal usul BCF. Seperti dilaporkan media pada 11 Ogos 2024, memetik Pengerusi Majlis Perbandaran Sibu Clarence Ting mengatakan kejayaan penganjuran BCF yang memasuki edisi ke-20 penganjurannya.

"Dalam hal ini, beliau menyampaikan ucapan terima kasih kepada mendiang Datuk Robert Lau, yang mengasaskan acara ini, yang ketika itu dikenali sebagai ‘Pesta Sìbu’ (Pesta Sibu).

"Dengan hormatnya, perkara di atas mengandungi beberapa ketidaktepatan fakta," katanya.

Tegasnya, BTE telah diilhamkan daripada Karnival Gawai 2002 dan Pesta Makanan Gawai 2001.

"Biarkan sejarah dan asal usul BCF direkodkan, diceritakan dan dilaporkan dengan betul. Jangan kita lupa," ujarnya.

Kenyataan penuh Chambai Lindong 

LEST WE FORGET: The history and origin of Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF).

It is reported in The Sunday Post newspaper on 11th August, 2024 as follows: 

“Meanwhile Ting (Cr Clarence Ting, Chairman Sìbu Municipal Council) said Sìbu celebrated another milestone with BCF entering its 20th edition. 

“In this respect, he conveyed his gratitude to the late Datuk Robert Lau, who founded this event, which was known then as ‘Pesta Sìbu’ (Sìbu Festival).”

With respect, the above contains some factual inaccuracies. 

GAWAI FOOD FEST 2001

1. Some time in early 2001, SMC , and in particular the then SMC Chairman the late Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew, gave blessings for the Dayak Councillors in SMC to collaborate with local Dayak NGOs in Sìbu to organize Gawai Food Fest at the car sheds behind Wisma Sanyan. It would involve the Dayak communities. The fest was held around early June, 2001 under the Chairmanship of a certain Cr Chambai Lindong. It was a huge success.

GAWAI CARNIVAL 2002

2. Following the success of the Gawai Food Fest, the fest was re-named Gawai Carnival in 2002 It was organized jointly by SMC, SRDC & local Dayak NGOs. It was held at Sìbu Town Square from 10-12 May, 2002 under the Chairmanship of Cr Chambai Lindong. It was even more successful than the 2001 edition.

BORNEO TRIBAL EXTRAVAGANZA (BTE) 2002

3. Following on, and inspired by the big success of Gawai Carnival, SMC under the Chairmanship of the late Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew decided to organize Borneo Tribal Extravaganza (BTE) from 21-28th September, 2002. The BTE would involve all communities, various NGOs and government departments in Sìbu. 

BORNEO CULTURAL FESTIVAL (BCF) 2003

4. Borneo Tribal Extravaganza (BTE) was renamed BORNEO CULTURAL FESTIVAL (BCF) in 2003.

TO RECAP:

BCF started 21 years ago in 2003. 

BCF is the off-shoot of BTE (2002). 

BTE was inspired by Gawai Carnival 2002 and Gawai Food Fest 2001. 

Let the history and origin of BCF be correctly recorded, narrated and reported. LEST WE FORGET.

Gambr Kredit STB