Folklore Fest to do away with usual frills
Published on: Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah International Folklore Festival (SIFF) will do away with some of its usual frills this year with the government keeping a tighter lid on expenditures. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun on Wednesday said the SIFF's 10th edition would be limited to 15 nations with no premier shows held in hotels but a straightforward competition. He said the event is also organised later than its usual mid-year dates to Aug 11 to 16 with the number of days shortened to five to cut costs.
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But Masidi who is also the Organising Chairman of SIFF said they will not compromise on quality of performance and may tie up with private entities or other government agencies to share costs. The usual formats like Folk Art Exhibition, Local Folk Dance Competition and the City Cultural Parade and traditional delicacy expo will also be retained. "We have already sent a total 189 invitations but we can only accept 15 nations. "So far, 27 nations have already expressed interest, and we may need to select them later," he said during a press conference on the festival, here.
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The 10th SIFF is themed "Marriage" to allow participants from the various nations to display their traditional costumes and practices on matrimony will be held at the Sabah Cultural Centre in Penampang. Masidi pointed out the government had spent RM5.9 million to equip the centre with state-of-the-art sound and entertainment system to cater to events of such magnitude and also theatre and other performances.
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It will also be SIFF's permanent venue in the future, he added. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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