The day of celebration started on the bank of the river around 8am, where a new village had sprung up with a range of tents and stalls had been set up, the largest, complete with a stage surrounded by potted plants. Throughout the morning stallholders and a variety of local organisations, including representatives from the Malaysian Army, provided demonstrations to entertain the crowd. Traditional local food was there for the tasting and T-shirts and other souvenirs were readily available for sale. It was a fun morning with the atmosphere of a traditional country fair from days gone by.
The occasion was graced by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Dato’ Sri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz who gave his welcome address to the several hundred gathered there including a group of European visitors. The emcee for the occasion was that popular son of Perak, KT Pillai.
He ended by explaining that earlier in the day he had planted a new bamboo tree on the river bank as the first step of a project to line the river with bamboo to protect the banks, but he reminded the organisers that he did not have ‘green fingers’ and tasked them with taking care of his tree.
It was then time for the Minister to cut the celebration cake followed by a very unusual lunch of Perakean heritage dishes. These included Putu Perak (rice flour and coconut cake), Masak Lemak Rebung (pickled bamboo shoots in coconut milk), Patin Masak Tempoyak (Patin fish cooked in fermented durian sauce) and Gulai Lemak Siput Sedut (snails) to name but a few.
This was followed by multiracial cultural performances, interspersed with prizes being given for painting and photographic competitions.
The full day of celebration in true Malaysian style, concluded with another local tradition, High Tea.
Ian Anderson
IpohWorld