MUKAH: Certain quarters here have raised concern over the Mukah Kaul 2020 event next month amid the current Covid-19 outbreak globally.
They are worried the annual event maybe scrapped due to health concerns.
On March 13, the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) issued an advisory to have all government and public gatherings involving more than 250 participants postponed to a later date.
On the same day, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah had stated that his ministry would adhere to the latest decision of the SDMC.
Meanwhile, a concerned individual was asking if the annual tourism-oriented event at Kala Dana beach here will proceed or not.
He argued that the government had advised the people to reduce organising activities involving the public for the time being.
“This is to avoid the problem of searching who have been attending an event or gathering to ask them to go to the hospital for a medical check, just like what has happened in a neighbouring country recently,” he said in a WhatsApp on Thursday morning.
He added he was just asking while hoping that the matter could be discussed and looked into by the relevant parties, including local grassroots leaders.
Meanwhile, a Mukah Kaul 2020 Committee led by Balingian assemblyman Abdul Yakub Arbi made a courtesy call on the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at his residence on Thursday afternoon.
Abdul Yakub who is also Mukah Kaul 2020 joint chairman and Mukah Melanau Association president was accompanied by among others, Mukah Division Resident cum Mukah Kaul joint chairman Hamdiah Bakir and Mukah District officer Shafrie Saili.
It is learnt that the purpose of the courtesy call was to invite the Head of State to attend the Keman Kaul on April 19, the highlight of the nine-day event.
Mukah Kaul 2020 will begin on April 11 with business trading activities followed by various other activities from April 12 until 19.
Mukah Kaul’s traditional practice Kaul Tugek will be held on April 18 at a designated site near Mukah River mouth, about 300 metres from the event proper at Kala Dana beach.
