RWMF to play small part for environment

KUCHING: The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) this year will be doing more for the environment with the introduction of recyclable paper food boxes to replace the polystyrene ones.

Urban Development and Tourism Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh announced this at a press conference here yesterday.

He said the environmentally friendly paper food packaging called ‘eco box’ is the brainchild of MakanMedia Marketing, which will be sponsoring 100,000 boxes at the RWMF.

The boxes, the company’s first project, will eventually be introduced to schools and at other events.

“We are pleased to note that we are striving to ‘go green’. The new packaging will be made available for free to all our food vendors operating at the festival venue for serving as well as take-away,” he pointed out.

MakanMedia Marketing managing director Isaac Lee was present to hand over the sponsorship to Wong.

Meanwhile, Wong said that there would be three preview shows before the festival.

“On the suggestion of Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, we had organised preview shows for the public and admission to the shows is free,” he said.

The first preview show for RWMF was held yesterday at the amphitheatre. Tonight, there will be preview shows at tHe Spring Shopping Complex and Boulevard Shopping Complex starting simultaneously at 7pm.

The objective of the previews is to give Kuchingites as well as children from the Sarawak Cancer Society and Kuching Autistic Association a chance to experience the annual global music celebration.

Asked on the progress of the final preparation for the 11th edition of the three-day festival that will kick-off on July 11, Wong replied: “We are ready! This is an event that all of us should proud of.”

He hoped that everyone from behind-the-counter hotel workers to the public will “go all out” to ensure that the event would be another big success.

“Some 200 media friends from throughout the world will be flying into the city to cover the event,” he pointed out.

He called on the public to be at their best behaviour and live up to the warmth and hospitality that Malaysians are known for so that outsiders will feel welcome throughout their stay here.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer Gracie Geikie said the first group of performers had arrived on Monday and they are expecting most groups to arrive yesterday.

“A total of 16 or 17 groups had arrived and we are expecting most of them to be here by Tuesday. Just in time for the show previews held at various venue,” she pointed out.

She targeted the crowd to be more than the previous RWMF, which was recorded at 20,000, thus Kuchingtes are advised to fully utilise the shuttle services that ply Kuching and the venue for the festival, Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV), to minimise traffic congestion there.

Also present at the function was RWMF organising chairman Benedict Jimbau.

Published by:
The Borneo Post
9th July 2008