Dragon and lion dance troupes perform on the street for visitors. — Photo by Chimon Upon

BAU: Siniawan bazaar, which hosted a grand Chap Goh Meh celebration yesterday, will soon have its own historical gallery.

Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh said the project costing half a million ringgit is aimed at preserving the rich heritage of Siniawan for posterity.

“The Siniawan historical gallery will showcase the history and significance of Siniawan, and the communities living there comprising not just the Chinese but also the Malays and Bidayuhs.

“This is our effort to preserve Siniawan as a heritage site and also to attract more tourists to come here.

“With the RM10 million Siniawan Waterfront project announced last year which will begin construction soon, more good things are coming to Siniawan and it will be a bustling place soon,” he told reporters during the Chap Goh Meh open house organised by  Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF), Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) of Siniawan here yesterday.

Meanwhile, he described the Chap Goh Meh celebration in Siniawan highlighted by a street procession as unique and not found in most parts of Sarawak.

Some 500 people from 62 troupes were involved in the procession which is touted as a potential tourism product for the bazaar, which is about 30 minutes by car from Kuching.

“This showed the rich heritage of Siniawan. It is mentioned in history that since 1880, Chap Goh Meh procession has always been organised by the Chinese community here. They seldom fail to organise it. They elect among themselves who should be the organising chairman for the year, and they would go raise enough funds to ensure the event is a success (sic),” Miro said.

The annual ‘Country Music Festival’ held for the past consecutive three years in Siniawan has attracted thousands of visitors.

“The festival is now becoming among the biggest of its kind in Malaysia. We will hold it again this October (sic),” the assemblyman added.

Meanwhile, JKKK Siniawan youth chairman Dylan Lai said it was the first time Siniawan is partnering with STF and STB to organise Chap Goh Meh open house.

“We are happy that Siniawan is chosen to host this celebration. It attracted a lot of visitors, which is a good way to promote Siniawan.

“During this open house, we hope not only just to make Siniawan a tourism spot but also to take the opportunity to promote the customs and culture of the Chinese from the Hakka group who are mainly found in Siniawan,” he said.

The celebration started in the morning with the annual Yuan Xiao Festival featuring the Ah-Nyong Traditional Street Procession.

There was also a traditional procession of the Chinese goddess Ah-Nyong (GuanYin or Bodhisattava Avalokitesvare) and other deities with lion and dragon dance performances from 30 temple groups.

The procession started from Swee Guk Kung Temple and passed through eight villages in Siniawan.  It continued through the night with a parade of decorative cars, lanterns, various traditional performances and a fireworks display.

Visitors to the open house were served with traditional Hakka Lui Cha and vegetarian food by the Siniawan community. STF also provided free shuttle bus service at two pick up points – Riverside Majestic Hotel and Watefront Hotel for visitors to Siniawan.