Ting with MALF 2020 participants.
MIRI: Organisers of the Miri AfroLatin Fiesta (MALF) have been assured of support by Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture for the dance festival for many years to come.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sebastian Ting gave this assurance when officiating at the 4th MALF gala night at Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club here recently.
During the event, MALF founder and organising chairlady Dr Safrina Othman announced that she would take a break from organising the now internationally recognised event to pursue a Master’s degree this year, which received positive response from thousands of supporters in the ballroom, including Ting.
“We wish you well for your masters programme. For those who wish to have the Miri AfroLatin Fiesta next year, maybe you all can form a committee and Dr Safrina could become the advisor and when the time comes, we will invite her back here to join us.
“We will all be with you, including my ministry. Thank you and congratulations Dr Safrina for another successful year of Miri AfroLatin Fiesta, despite challenges that we may have faced at present including the coronavirus which is affecting the whole world tourism,” said Ting.
He added that under Dr Safrina the Miri AfroLatin Fiesta had managed to gather many people from at least 20 different countries.
“It is that kind of fellowship and connection that you have established with people that had drawn people from outside Sarawak and Malaysia,” Ting said.
Ting lamented that it was unfortunate that the year had kicked off with the coronavirus outbreak which had caused some people who had booked their tickets to be at the event to cancel their plans.
“For those who are here, thank you for your time to be here despite all this. I honestly from the bottom of my heart thank you all wonderful people and indeed Miri is very blessed with your visit,” he said.
Meanwhile, in her farewell speech, Dr Safrina said she will never stop dancing and supporting festivals and events surrounding her.
“I am going to continue supporting them. I leave you with a good note, I leave you with positive vibes, and I hope everybody will leave Miri with happy feeling and for whatever weakness and glitches happening in this festival, I hope you forgive me and continue to support whatever I am going to do in the future,” the La Danza Fitness & Dance Studio Miri proprietor said.
The four-day festival which attracted local and international artistes including Sarawakian Salsa instructor Fairuz and other Afrolatin dance experts featured many interesting activities including workshops on ‘kizomba’, ‘salsa’ and ‘bachata’.
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