THE ceremony to raise the largest Sarawak flag on the controversial RM 30 million flagpole in Kuching will be made a big public event on a more regular basis, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.
Every state ministry and government agency in Sarawak will take turns to handle the flag-raising which will be held regularly, he said.
"We want to also bring in the hotels and tourism agencies to promote this flag-raising ceremony.
"We want to bring in tourists in big numbers to the event also.
"To us, this raising of our Ibu Pertiwi Sarawak flag can be as popular as the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace in London which can draw international tourists," he told reporters at the flagpole monument.
On Sept 8, it was announced that Sarawak had hired a manufacturer in mainland China to make the giant 25-metre-long by 12-metre-high Sarawak flag to replace the one blown off the 99-metre-high pole.
Sarawak Deputy Minister for Public Utility and Telecommunications Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said the new flag has to be made overseas as the previous one was ripped off by strong winds. - November 18, 2024