Goh (3rd right) presenting a memento to Noorliza (5th left) during the courtesy call, meanwhile witnessed by Junainah ((4th left), Wong (3rd left) and other FCAS officials.
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 the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) President Tan Sri T.C Goh.
Goh, who is also President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) and 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 a courtesy call on Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Noorliza Awang Alip by FCAS leaders and the organising committee for the race yesterday, to brief her on the progress of the preparations for the said annual cultural sports event.
Also present were Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) Director-General Junainah Abbie, FCAS Deputy President cum organising committee chairman for the 7th FCAS Sabah International Dragon Boat Race Datuk Susan Wong, , FCAS Vice Presidents Datuk Chua Soon Ping, Kapitan Fung Chun Fatt and Ng Young Wah, and its Youth Chief Chang Jeng Yung.
In her briefing, Wong touched on the need for DBKK 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 July 3.
The 2022/7th FCAS International Dragon Boat Race will be held at the Likas Bay from July 1 – 3,, and will culminate with the final races on July 3, which will be officiated by the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.
Meanwhile, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin will officiate the “Sunset Beach Party” on July 1 , and the inaugural “Sunset Run” on July2 will be flagged off by Sabah Youth and Sport Minister Datuk Ellron Angin at 4pm. And at noon time of the same day, Huang Shifang, the new Chinese Consul General in Kota Kinabalu, will officiate the “Rice Dumpling cum Sabah Cuisines Tasting Fair”.
