Best of Siniawan in 100 years

0
An overcast sky fails to dampen the festive mood of the Siniawan Festival.

An overcast sky fails to dampen the festive mood of the Siniawan Festival.

CULTURAL events, country and western music — or cowboy night — and a wide variety of food were among the themes at the Siniawan Festival from Sept 15 to 18.

All these items are part of what make the Old Siniawan Bazaar truly alive as it celebrates its 100 years of existence.

Besides being fun, the festivities also offered the local communities a host of tourism-centric economic and social benefits.

Tourism has brought the communities together and instilled a sense of pride in their history.

In fact, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry of Sarawak has identified the Old Siniawan Bazaar as a new tourism destination in the state, according to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg at the launching of the Festival.

The over-a-century-old Bazaar had met the prerequisites to be declared a heritage site, he said, adding: “So it has a special character and soon, will be gazetted as a heritage area.”

Abang Johari, who is also Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, believed Siniawan

Bazaar would gain great popularity after its gazettement as a heritage site and its promotion alongside other tourist spots in the area such as Wind Cave and Fairy Cave.

The economic benefits from the Festival were evident. The event attracted visitors and tourists, giving the local economy a boost.

The highlight was on Saturday night (Sept 17) where patrons were treated to a ‘Western Country Music and Cowboy Night’. Live bands performed mostly country western classics from the 60’s to the 80’s.

The theme coincided with the single-street Bazaar reminiscent of a typical Wild West cowboy town.

About 8,000 people showed up for the Western Country Music and Cowboy Night, making this Sept 17 night the most ‘happening night’ in the Bazaar.

Memorable event

It was an event to remember, especially for local western

country music lovers. In fact, whoever stepped onto the street that night would feel like strolling through a cowboy festival. Revellers, clad in cowboy outfit, mingled and danced to the twangs of country music.

On both sides of the street, food and drinks and other delicacies were sold.

On stage, two local bands — The Old Tondong Road and Joe Bladae and the Gang — and a Philippine  guest band took turns to entertain. Some in the audience sang along with the bands and danced.

Also present was Serembu assemblyman, Miro Simuh, who even sang Have You Ever Seen The Rain, recorded by Credence Clearwater Revival (CCR).

The organisers must have been thrilled with the turnout.

Miro who initiated this inaugural Festival, is already looking to top the Western Country Music and Cowboy Night at next year’s event.

The event definitely went beyond expectations, he enthused.

“We expected about 1,000 people to turn up but surprisingly by 5.30pm, there was no space for parking in and around the area, and by 8pm, the whole bazaar was packed.

“I was told the night traders did not expect such a huge crowd, and by 10pm, all their foods were sold out. They thought people would come after taking their meals but it seemed they came not to only watch the show but also eat and drink,” he added.

According to Miro, the final night also pulled in the crowd — with about 4,000 turning up.

He said the four-day Festival had drawn about 20,000 visitors to the Old Siniawan Bazaar.

 

Less visible

As for the social benefits, they were less visible but just as important. One is, of course, the stronger relationships among the communities.

The foundation could have been laid either in the planning phase or during the Festival proper.

This was where the bonds among the government, public-private organisations and neighbourhood groups were forged, and the connection made among elected officials, staff, volunteers and residents.

Miro acknowledged that while the social benefits were less visible, the Festival was the most harmonious event held in his constituency, involving all the local communities.

“This is the first time we organised a big event that really involved all the races. To me, it was very successful and we’re going to make it an annual affair. I take my hat off to the organising committee for making the event a big success.”

Among the events were jungle trekking, cycling challenge, futsal, sepak takraw, blowpipe demonstration, street and traditional games, Mid-Autumn Festival (mooncake), calligraphy exhibition, Chinese chess competition, lantern-making demonstration, lion dance competition, the worshipping of Yue Niang (moon goddess) and the Ghost Festival.

Patrons were also treated to a traditional Teochew Opera and Mandarin Yue Liang song contest.

 

Ethnic section

A Sarawak ethnic section, focusing on the Bidayuh community with the sale of handicrafts and local delicacies, and Bidayuh cultural performances, was added to the programme.

The exploration of the Rajah James Brooke Heritage Trail, incorporating Brooke’s first fort in Sarawak — Fort Berlidah, built near Siniawan — was also organised.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, head of the organising committee Kapitan Liew Jiu Fung said the Festival was one of the steps taken to revive the Old Siniawan Bazaar.

The committee, he pointed out, had been trying to revive the Bazaar in earnest, especially in attracting the young to return.

He said being tagged Old People’s Town was rather embarrassing but there was nothing much they could do to prevent young people from moving out with the scarcity of business and job opportunities.

However, he was happy many agencies, including Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), had been helping the committee to revitalise Siniawan, especially through tourist promotions.

He said the Siniawan weekend night market, first set up in 2010, had been attracting more young people back to trade.

Liew regarded the Festival, held in conjunction with the Mooncake Celebration, as ‘a multi-racial event and a moment of unity and harmony’.

Building on the public response to the event, it’s fair to say the programme it offered has fostered community pride and strengthened relationships among the various races.

For this reason, Miro wants the Festival to become a niche tourism product in his constituency and he is already planning a grander one next year.

“I’m seriously considering having more events so that more people can participate. Of course, the Western Country Music and Cowboy Night will be the main event since the Bazaar reminds one of a typical Wild West cowboy town,” he added.

Located along Bau Road, about 26km from Kuching, the Old Siniawan Bazaar was once a forgotten place, typifying the early Sarawak towns where time seemed to have stood still.

Siniawan is actually a street flanked by two rows of shops — 24 on each side.

The shops are all made out of wood like most of the old buildings from the old Sarawak Kingdom era.