BAU – For many visitors to Siniawan town, the Siniawan Country Music Festival (SCMF) 2025 is shaping up to be the principal attraction.
Now in its eighth edition, the festival runs from 26 to 28 September and will showcase country music acts from across Kalimantan, Sabah, Kuala Lumpur as well as locally based bands.
According to Serembu State Assemblyman Miro Simuh, SCMF drew between 15,000 and 17,000 attendees last year. This year, he is optimistic that enhanced promotion and a more expansive venue will lift visitor numbers further, some estimates now project 18,000 to 20,000 people.
The upgraded location is the newly completed Siniawan Waterfront, an RM 10.8 million project slated for its official opening on 27 September during the festival. Premiers and dignitaries are expected to officiate the launch.
Miro also revealed that SCMF 2025 will coincide with multiple milestone celebrations: the 185th anniversary of Siniawan town and the 50th anniversary of the Siniawan Street Night Market.
He noted:
“For this year’s SCMF 2025 … we are expecting a crowd of up to 20,000 people and revenue exceeding RM1 million.”
At a press conference in Bau, he affirmed that using a larger festival location and mounting a more aggressive promotional campaign are part of the strategy to surpass prior attendance.
Festival organisers have programmed 11 bands over three nights, alongside solo performers. Among the acts will be groups drawn from Sabah, Kalimantan, and Kuala Lumpur, alongside local ensembles.
The move to the waterfront is seen as a way to enhance the festival experience, providing more space, scenic views and modern amenities. Also under planning is a RM 28 million multi-level car park, which may begin construction in the coming year.
As SCMF 2025 draws near, observers anticipate it will further cement Siniawan’s status as a cultural and tourism magnet in Sarawak, combining music, heritage and festivities into a high-impact celebration.
