RM1mil grant for kite fest next year

MORE than 100 international participants from 40 countries are expected to join in next year’s Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival.

Malaysian Kite Flyers Council president Datuk A. Rahim Nin said the annual event would be jointly organised by the Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) and the Johor Kite Association.

He said they were also working together with Tourism Johor and the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry to bring in more international participation this year.

“Next year will be the 26th anniversary of the international festival, and we hope to be able to bring in the ‘dynamic culture’ theme with a special focus on sports kites,” he said.

Rahim added that the programme would also be organised using the grant allocated by the MBPG at a cost of RM1mil.

“Next year will be the second time the council has entrusted us with organising the event. We hope to be able to bring in more fun activities for the whole family, inside or outside of Johor.

“We are currently in the first phase of discussing the date and identifying the flow of the international kite festival circuit to ensure all participants are able to follow the planned route.

“The festival will start in Satun, Thailand, before coming to Pasir Gudang and ending in Kabong, Sarawak,” he said, adding that the festival in Pasir Gudang would be held from Feb 28 to March 3.

Asked if the dates would be affected by the monsoon season, he said the dates were chosen because they expected it to be a windy season when the north-east monsoon season start to transition.

MBPG whip chief Datuk Mohd Amin Ahmad said the Malaysian Kite Flyers Council was also urged to ensure the rental fee for the traders’ lot would be controlled and reasonable.

“There have been cases where traders complained of subletting issues being practised in the previous festival where the rental fee for each lot was supposed to be only RM250 a week.

“We received reports of some lots booked by individuals that were rented out for up to RM2,000 a week, which was absurd.”

He said the rearrangement of food and drink vendors also needed intervention, as some of the traders selling the same goods had been placed right next to each other.”

Mohd Amin added that it was high time the festival was held without any issues to ensure visitors have fun and enjoy the local hospitality.