KUCHING, Aug 15: The Sarawakian spirit of giving shone brightly at the Kuching Festival Fair 2025, which raised RM67,105.85 for 22 charitable organisations through the generosity of stallholders and the community. Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng described the evening as a “fantastic night” to celebrate both the festival’s vibrancy and the city’s generosity. The annual festival, which began on July 25, is now in its final days, with only four days left before it wraps up. “This year, we’ve had strong winds and heavy rains, but night after night, the festival grounds are still full. That’s the Kuching spirit, rain or shine, nothing stops us from coming together to enjoy food, music, and fellowship,” he said when officiating the prize presentation and charity contribution ceremony at MBKS Theatre on Thursday night (Aug 14). Wee emphasised that the Kuching Festival is not merely a food fair but an embodiment of what makes Kuching a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, showcasing culture, creativity, and heritage on a plate.
“Tonight, we add one more ingredient to that recipe, the spirit of giving,” he added. Commending stallholders for their hard work and contributions, Wee urged the 22 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) receiving the funds to expand their outreach. “Don’t just help when people come to you asking. Reach out, look around, and find those who are quietly struggling. Some suffer in silence, and it is our duty to bring help to them before they even ask,” he said, reiterating MBKS’s commitment to its “No One Left Behind” ethos.
Mental Health Association of Sarawak Kuching Branch, Society of Kuching Urban Poor, Sarawak Hun Nam Siang T’ng, Sarawak Deaf Community Services Association, Sarawak Society for the Blind, Sarawak Society for the Deaf, Sarawak Cheshire Home, Kuching Autistic Association, Salvation Army and Wishesland were among the recipients. The evening also featured the announcement of winners for the Best Decorative Stalls competition, judged by three experts from the Malaysia Architect Association (PAM) Sarawak Chapter based on creativity, visual appeal, neatness, cleanliness, attractive food display, proper food handler attire, and adherence to council regulations. In addition, students who excelled in the School Landscape Competition were recognised for promoting Kuching as not only a gastronomic city but also a green city. He praised their dedication, calling them “the future guardians of Kuching’s beauty.”
As the festival nears its close, Wee encouraged visitors to make the remaining days count by enjoying more food, laughter, and camaraderie, while carrying forward the caring spirit beyond the event. “Together, we make Kuching not just a city to live in, but a city to love,” he concluded. 图说 Wee (fifth left) and MBKS councillors presenting the cheque to be contributed to 22 charitable organisations during the prize presentation and charity contribution ceremony at MBKS Theatre on Aug 14, 2025.
Mental Health Association of Sarawak Kuching Branch, Society of Kuching Urban Poor, Sarawak Hun Nam Siang T’ng, Sarawak Deaf Community Services Association, Sarawak Society for the Blind, Sarawak Society for the Deaf, Sarawak Cheshire Home, Kuching Autistic Association, Salvation Army and Wishesland were among the recipients. The evening also featured the announcement of winners for the Best Decorative Stalls competition, judged by three experts from the Malaysia Architect Association (PAM) Sarawak Chapter based on creativity, visual appeal, neatness, cleanliness, attractive food display, proper food handler attire, and adherence to council regulations. In addition, students who excelled in the School Landscape Competition were recognised for promoting Kuching as not only a gastronomic city but also a green city. He praised their dedication, calling them “the future guardians of Kuching’s beauty.”
As the festival nears its close, Wee encouraged visitors to make the remaining days count by enjoying more food, laughter, and camaraderie, while carrying forward the caring spirit beyond the event. “Together, we make Kuching not just a city to live in, but a city to love,” he concluded. 图说 Wee (fifth left) and MBKS councillors presenting the cheque to be contributed to 22 charitable organisations during the prize presentation and charity contribution ceremony at MBKS Theatre on Aug 14, 2025.