IPOH: The Kuala Kangsar Water Sports Festival 2024 which was organised in conjunction with the Sultan of Perak's Birthday Celebration, and scheduled to take place on Oct 26 and 27, has been postponed to another date as a mark of respect for those affected by the floods and rising river water levels in Perak.
In a statement on Tuesday (Oct 22), the festival's secretariat said the postponement of the programme had also received the consent of the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah.
"The decision to postpone was taken with full consideration. His Majesty understands the disappointment felt by all the people, especially the participants and visitors who have been waiting for this festival for a long time.
"This decision was also taken after considering the current situation such as floods, and heavy rain in several areas that have caused water levels in rivers to rise in Perak, so it is not appropriate for us to have a festival when the community is going through difficult times," the statement said.
On Oct 14, the media reported that after an absence of the event since 2009, the Kuala Kangsar Water Sports Festival 2024, which is a traditional event in the district, will be back in a more lively atmosphere, thus boosting the Visit Perak Year 2024.
Orang Kaya Bendahara Seri Maharaja, General (R) Tan Sri Mohd Zahidi Zainuddin, who is also the chairman of the Festival’s Main Committee, in a press conference on the same day, said the organising of the festival was also in conjunction with Sultan Nazrin's birthday celebration in November, including celebrating the 10th anniversary of His Majesty's reign as the Sultan of Perak since 2014.
Meanwhile, the festival secretariat also informed that the organisers wished to apologise for all the inconveniences that had to be endured by all parties as a result of the postponement of the festival.
Therefore, the festival secretariat informed that any form of changes and the latest developments regarding the festival will be updated on official channels and social media platforms.
Meanwhile, Perak Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin earlier said at a press conference that all decisions regarding the organisation of the festival would only be determined by the organising committee after receiving recommendations from the relevant agencies. - Bernama
