KUCHING – The BGK Carnival 2025 unfolded with vigour on Friday evening at Dataran Perayaan, Petra Jaya, drawing crowds into a festive blend of music, food and community interaction.
The opening was officiated by Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat, Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development and Head of the Sarawak Contingent. He mingled with festival goers and stallholders, personally presenting aprons to local traders as tokens of appreciation.
Karaoke took centre stage as singers delivered a mixture of classic and modern hits, prompting cheers and laughter from the audience.
Alongside entertainment, the carnival stalls exhibited the entrepreneurial creativity of Sarawakians, ranging from clothing bundles and potted decorative plants to an array of local delicacies.
Also, distinctive were the offerings of handcrafted jewellery that fused traditional and contemporary styles, and perfumes innovatively made from gula apong, a sweet sap product native to the region.
The BGK Carnival forms part of the broader Borneo Games Kuching (BGK) 2025 initiative, which returns this year after a 12-year hiatus and seeks to promote cultural expression, community engagement and local enterprise.
The larger Games are taking place from 24 to 28 September at venues across Petra Jaya, with participants from Sabah, Labuan, East Kalimantan and Brunei joining the Sarawak contingent.
In his opening speech earlier, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah emphasised that BGK 2025 is not merely a sporting event but a stage for regional unity and cultural diplomacy. He also underscored Sarawak’s aim to be a hub for major sporting events.
By combining entertainment, local talent and community spirit, organisers hope the carnival will highlight the vibrant social fabric of Sarawak and strengthen the Games’ mission of solidarity through sport.