Global Taiping Festival and Lion Dance Competition Recognised by Malaysia Book of Records

The Taiping Global Festival and Lion Dance Competition 2022 that is being held, have successfully attained an entry into the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR). The achievement was obtained for the record of Highest Registered Visitor Attendance for a Lion Dance Competition, held at the Taiping Mall.

According to MBOR Office Manager, Lee Pooi Leng, the record is the first in Malaysia in terms of visitor attendance, within two days of the festival.

“We look at many categories, including how many days it is organised and the date.

“Because we set a benchmark of 8,000 but they broke the record by selling all the tickets for the entry of 10,000 visitors to the festival, within just two days.

She said this in a press conference after presenting the MBOR plaque of recognition to the organisers at the Dinner and Prize Presentation Ceremony in conjunction with the Taiping Global Festival and Lion Dance Competition 2022, last night.

Executive Councillor for Housing, Local Government and Tourism, Dato’ Nolee Ashilin binti Dato’ Mohammed Radzi was present to officiate the event. This festival was organised by 6 Sense Group together with Koperasi Waris and Kerabat Raja Negeri Perak Berhad. Also present, and leading the lion dance competition aspect was the Chairman of the Lion Dance Performance (LDP) International Council, Francis Teo with the support of the Hong Teik Association.

Nolee Ashilin when met said that the Global Taiping Festival and Lion Dance Competition brought together more than 300 participants from six countries.

“The six countries are from Malaysia, Australia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.

She said her side sees the potential of this festival to be made into an annual event in the future.

“We also managed to break the record with 10,000 admission tickets or the attendance of 10,000 people within two days, the highest in Taiping city.

“God willing, I hope we can integrate this event with cultural understanding, especially in Malaysia.

“As it has been done in Terengganu, the lion dance is not limited to only the Chinese but can be expanded to other races, for cultural sports,” she said.

Meanwhile, Taiping Global Festival Chairman, Raja Omar Ikram Raja Abdullah Omar, who also acts as an organiser, said that Taiping was chosen as the venue for this competition, in line with its image of being the ‘first’ in Malaysia.

“When we discussed in Ipoh, many people asked where this festival should be held, so we chose this heritage city.

“There are many firsts in Taiping, so this will also be a first in Taiping in particular and Perak in general.

“God willing, for the year 2024, we will gather more participants from many countries after this,” he said.

The three-day event since Friday saw the team from Singapore take first place in the Lion Dance competition.

Second place went to Indonesian participants, Third and Fourth from Malaysia while the rest got consolation prizes.

First place received RM10,000, Second place RM5,000 while Third and Fourth place took home RM4,000.

by Rosli Mansor