Kuching has reverted to a Covid-19 ‘green zone’ today as no new local transmission cases have been detected or reported in the past 14 days, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said in a statement.
Covid-19 green zones are districts are zones without any local transmissions for 14 days, while yellow zones are those with one to 39 cases and red zones are those with more than 40 cases.
In Sarawak, Sibu and Lawas are still ‘yellow zones’ with three and two locally transmitted cases respectively in the last 14 days.
Sarawak had closed all its borders and imposed strict entry ruling for anyone wishing to enter since a week ago.
This comes as Covid-19 cases in Malaysia surge to over 632 cases in a single day yesterday.
The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is a signature music and cultural event in Kuching.
This award winning festival itself attracts 20,000 music lovers from across the globe with a ratio of 65% being foreign tourist.
The gem of the festival is the unique jams held during the workshops, and this festival is regarded as a must go by many.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE RAINFOREST WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
Here, music lovers get to be involve with the performers as they dance, sing and sometimes even play instruments used during the whole 3 day fest.
Revelers participating in the E Tahiti O workshop – KUCHINGBORNEO
If you are looking for an excuse to party hard, the Rainforest World Music Festival is definitely the place, although the best part of the whole three day event comes from the workshops held during the day.
Realizing this, organizers pumped up the number of such workshops during the 20th anniversary of the Rainforest World Music Festival, delighting many regulars to the festival.
These workshops usually end with impromptu jams that can send goosebumps to the audiences, but that’s not before the many interactive activities which encourage dancing, clapping, singing and even drumming. Not exactly that sort of person? Well, just observing the crowd go wild during the workshops is also exciting.
The increase number of workshops has however made it almost impossible for anyone to attend all, ensuring you’d want to come back again the following year.
There’s also a lot of delicious food available with Sarawak Dayak foodbeing the highlights at these food bazaar. The food would be slightly higher priced that the ones you find outside, but that is largely expected since outside food and drinks is forbidden in the venue.
Also, the crafts bazaar has also been a regular feature in the Rainforest World Music Festival, allowing you to pick and choose unique momentos to carry home.
At night, a massive concerts involving two purpose built stages would start at around 7PM. Invited artist from all over the world would showcase their music to the excited thousands with the rain likely to thrill the crowd even more as music fills the rainforest.
WHEN & WHERE DOES THE RAINFOREST WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL HAPPEN?
The Rainforest World Music Festival is usually held annually, during the second week of July.
However, sometimes the festival dates will be shifted to accommodate special events such as the Ramadan month.
The hashtag of the RWMF – KUCHINGBORNEO
Held at the foot of mystical Mount Santubong, within the compounds of the Sarawak Cultural Village, the Rainforest World Music Festival begins at 10AM, and it usually wraps up by midnight during the three days.
GETTING TO THE RAINFOREST WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
Due to the limited number of parking, organizers (The Sarawak Tourim Board – STB) normally prepare a shuttle bus to the event from popular hotels in Kuching City.
However, if you insist on driving, STB has made it a point that you will still have to take a shuttle van from a nearby resort some 2km from the venue. The road heading toward the venue will be closed to public during the festival. Walking to the venue from Kuching City is strictly not advised as it is far, but if you stay at these hotels we recommend (which are nearby the venue), you can consider walking.
For those driving, the map to the Sarawak Cultural Village can be seen below.
WHERE TO PARK DURING THE RAINFOREST WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
Parking at the Rainforest World Music Festival is a known issue during every edition.
There will be two check points to assist and manage illegal parking and monitor traffic flows; one at Santubong Resort and the other at the venue pick up point. Both check points are manned by the traffic police and officers operating in shift.
Illegal parking at the Rainforest World Music Festival will not be tolerated and there will be a tow truck on site to remove illegally parked vehicles that hinders traffic flow to and from the festival venue.
Towed cars will be brought to the roundabout heading towards Damai Beach Resort and at the Sarawak Cultural Village where owners can claim and pay the towing bill.
Festival goers are advised to park their vehicles at the road leading to One Hotel Santubong, where they will be charged a parking fee.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO TO THE RWMF?
Tickets to the RWMF used to be only RM30/person, but it has since increased.
In 2014, the entrance fee was RM110/person, and the price has been retained ever since. Early birds do get discounts nonetheless.
Though years past, the RWMF remain one of Kuching’s (and Malaysia’s) biggest music festival with those intending to come advised to book their hotels in Kuching a few months in advance.
WHERE TO BUY RWMF TICKETS?
The organizers of the RWMF usually create pop-up events to sell tickets as the festival draws near.
However, sales of tickets have been centralized online at the the official website.
TIPS TO READ BEFORE GOING TO THE RWMF
So, okay, you have decided to go to the Rainforest World Music Festival. What now?
Well, if you ask me what’s next, then it would be reading my tips about going to the RWMF below.
The public is not allowed to enter Sampuant or Pueh Waterfall.
The waterfall which has attracted many visitors recently is part of the Samunsam Wildlife Sanctuary, and any activity at the site is considered trespassing.
This was reminded by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) in a statement which pointed out that as such activities like four-wheel driving, trekking and picnicking were considered as trespassing.
SFC noted that enforcement officers had detected a group of people trespassing into the Samunsam Wildlife Sanctuary area for those activities.
SFC chief executive officer Zolkipli Mohamad Aton, who is also the Controller of National Parks and Nature Reserves, stressed that those activities were prohibited and are considered as a trespassing offence.
According to the National Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance 1998, no entry is allowed to Totally Protected Areas (TPAs), including Wildlife Sanctuary, without permission from the Controller.
Secondary schooling at Kuching Public Secondary Schools begins when a child is 13 on 1 January of a given year and is completed after five years of education.
The education at public secondary schools is free but not mandatory.
Students in Public Secondary Schools sit for PT3 when after they complete Form 3 at the age of 15, and later the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) when they finish Form 5. SPM is also known as the Malaysian Certificate of Education which is equivalent to the GCE ‘O’ level.
Public Secondary schools in Kuching are divided into:
Academic secondary schools
Technical secondary schools which offer three streams i.e.
– technical stream
– vocational stream, and
– skills stream
Secondary schools of other descriptions as determined by the Ministry, such as
– National Religious Secondary Schools
– Special Education Schools
LIST OF KUCHING PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Here’s a list on public primary schools in Kuching. Behind the name of the school is the contact number of the school.
You can also click on the school name to visit their official Facebook page.
ACADEMIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS
SMK DPH ABDUL GAPOR (INTEG) LORONG STAMPIN 23, JALAN STAMPIN 6082451130
SMK SERI SETIA JALAN SETIA RAJA, KUCHING 6082362325
SMK SG MAONG JALAN PISANG BARAT 6082252788
SMK TABUAN JAYA JALAN WAN ALWI 6082364936
SMK BAKO JALAN BAKO 6082432251
SMK JALAN ARANG LORONG 13, JALAN ARANG 6082452871
SMK DEMAK BARU JALAN DIPLOMATIK,OFF JALAN BAKO 6082311670
Primary schooling at Kuching Public Primary Schools begins when a child is six on 1 January of a given year and is completed after six years of education.
Since 2003, primary schooling has been compulsory whilst home-schooling or home-based teaching is allowed only with the prior permission of the State Education Department, Ministry of Education. All Malaysian parents must ensure that their children have access to primary education when they reach the age of six +.
Public Primary schools in Kuching are divided into:
Government schools: public-funded national schools, and
Government-aided schools: public-funded national-type schools, includes
– Chinese national-type schools
– Tamil national-type schools
LIST OF KUCHING PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Here’s a list on public primary schools in Kuching. Behind the name of the school is the contact number of the school.
You can also click on the school name to visit their official Facebook page.
SK MERPATI JEPANG JALAN PATINGGI ALI, 6082421885
SK RANCANGAN PERUMAHAN RAKYAT JLN ASTANA, PETRA JAYA, 6082446293
SK SATRIA JAYA LORONG A, TAMAN SATRIA JAYA, BDC STAMPIN, 6082570878
SK LAKSAMANA LRG. 4 OFF JLN. STAMPIN BARAT, TAMAN HUI SING, 6082573051
SK SG. MAONG HILIR KUCHING LRG 17, OFF JLN KAPOR, TMN. WEE 6082414689
SK MATANG JAYA KM 6, JALAN MATANG 6082648035
SK RPR BATU KAWA LOT 1813 RPR BT.KAWA, FASA 2, JALAN BATU KAWA 6082687161
SK JALAN ARANG LOT 4542, BLOK 225, JALAN KHONG PING, 6082451930
SK SIOL KANAN TAMAN SUKMA, JALAN SIOL KANAN, PETRA JAYA 6082447685
SK TABUAN HILIR JALAN KAMPUNG TABUAN MELAYU, 6082366259
SK BANDAR SAMARIANG SK PEN 6082443646
SK GITA 2 LOT 8683, SEKSYEN 65, JALAN MATANG 6082245512
SK BERADEK KAMPUNG BERADEK. N/A
SK BATU KITANG BATU KITANG, JALAN BAU, 6082370197
SK MUHIBBAH SEBERANG PENDING 6082674705
SK PAYA MEBI JALAN LANDEH,OFF 10TH MILE,KOTA PADAWAN 6082380875
SK MATANG KM 14 JALAN MATANG 60198588964
SK ENCIK BUYONG JALAN ASTANA, PETRA JAYA 6082440440
SK GERSIK PETRA JAYA, 6082440531
SK SANTUBONG SK SANTUBONG KAMPUNG SANTUBONG KUCHING 6082846728
SK MUARA TEBAS SK MUARA TEBAS,KAMPUNG MUARA TEBAS,JALAN BAKO 6082438437
SK PASIR PANDAK JALAN DIPLOMATIK, OFF JALAN BAKO, 93050 PETRA JAYA 6082381691
SK GITA JALAN SEMARAK, PETRA JAYA 6082256824
SK PULO S.K PULO, KAMPUNG SEMARANG KUCHING 6082440549
SK GOEBILT KAMPUNG GOEBILT, JALAN BAKO, 6082432452
SK TABUAN JALAN SETIA RAJA 6082365408
SK SEMENGGOK KM 20 JALAN KUCHING SERIAN 6082614178
SK ASTANA JLN BAKO, PETRA JAYA 6082-440340
SK TEMENGGONG KAMPUNG TEMENGGONG, KM 24, JALAN MATANG 6082380190
SK TG BAKO KAMPUNG TANJONG BAKO,JALAN BAKO KUCHING. 60126349573
SK TABUAN ULU JLN. FOOCHOW NO.1 6082333984
SK SALAK SK SALAK, KAMPUNG SALAK, KUCHING N/A
SK SEMARIANG KPG. SEMARIANG BATU, PETRA JAYA 60082447475
SK SG AUR KAMPUNG SUNGAI AUR, JALAN MATANG 60168503145
SK TABUAN JAYA LORONG 2A1, JALAN URAT MATA, 6082364152
SK RANTAU PANJANG KAMPUNG RANTAU PANJANG,JALAN BATU KAWA 6082380885
SK TAN SRI DATUK HAJI MOHAMED TAMAN MALIHAH, JALAN BELATOK, MATANG 6082641069
SK TELAGA AIR LORONG NO 3, KAMPUNG TELAGA AIR, JALAN MATANG. 6082380832
SK WIRA JAYA KM 14, JALAN KUCHING/SERIAN 6082619419
SK SEMERAH PADI JALAN DEPO,KUCHING 6082440654
SK RAMPANGI KAMPUNG RAMPANGI 6082443022
SK PETRA JAYA D/A JPDK PADAWAN, LORONG 17,OFF JALAN KAPOR 6082645418
SK MAJ GEN DATU IBRAHIM KEM SEMENGGO,JLN LAPANGAN TERBANG LAMA 6082612410
SK BATU LINTANG SK BATU LINTANG, JALAN KOLEJ 6082 421942
SK PENDIDIKAN KHAS (B) KUCHING JALAN KOLEJ 6082244526
SK JLN.ONG TIANG SWEE JALAN ONG TIANG SWEE 6082258335
SK GREEN ROAD CLOUD ESTATE AVENUE,GREEN ROAD 6082241943
SK SG STUTONG SK SG. STUTONG. OFF TMN SATRIA JAYA, BDC, STAMPIN 6082458613
SK PELAMAN SIGANDAR KM 58, JALAN PUNCAK BORNEO, PADAWAN. 60128582110
SK BENGOH KAMPONG BENGOH,OFF JLN.BORNEO HEIGHTS. N/A
SK PURUH KARU KAMPUNG KARU,KM 40.JALAN PUNCAK BORNEO 601119879707
SK SIBURAN BATU LORONG 7 SIBURAN, JALAN KUCHING/SERIAN 6082864742
SK PELAMAN SIDUNUK KAMPUNG PELAMAN DUNUK,KM 7 JALAN LINK 60138290053
SK SIBU LAUT KG.SIBU LAUT,TELAGA AIR, JALAN MATANG 60168640605
SK SITANG PETAG KM 7, JLN MAMBONG/SARIG 60138044050
SK PATUNG KM34, KPG PATUNG, JLN KUCHING/SERIAN 6082862913
SK KAMBUG KM 41, JALAN PUNCAK BORNEO, N/A
SK PANGKALAN AMPAT JALAN BORNEO HEIGHT 60143984100
SK TABA SAIT OFF JLN. BORNEO HEIGHTS, ULU SUNGAI BENGOH 6082240568
SK SEJIJAK KAMPUNG SEJIJAK, JALAN BATU KAWA/MATANG 6082644692
The Sarawak government has decided to tighten entry into its borders with quarantine made mandatory for all arrivals.
Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) in a statement announced the following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all arrivals into Sarawak’s soil.
FOR THOSE COMING IN FROM SABAH/LABUAN
No entry to all from 4 – 18 October 2020.
Sarawakians will only be allowed once they fill in the ENTERSARAWAK App and fill in the e-Health Declaration form. They will be subject to 14 days mandatory quarantine and will be swabbed twice on the 2nd and 10th day of quarantine. The Sarawak government will bear the cost of quarantine.
Oil and gas workers will follow previous SOPs.
Essential service workers using land will require a permit to travel from SDMC’s office in Limbang/Lawas. They must also get tested for Covid-19 every 14 days, and observe latest law of Brunei shall they pass through the country.
FOR THOSE FROM WEST MALAYSIA (MALAYA)
All Malaysians and foreigners must fill in the e-Health declaration form and apply to enter using the ENTERSARAWAK app. They will be also subject to 14 days mandatory quarantine at their own expense. Covid-19 swab test will be taken on the 2nd and 10th day.
Workers of essential services on official duty must take a Covid-19 test 3 days prior to their arrival in Sarawak. They must fill in the e-Health declaration form and apply to enter using the ENTERSARAWAK app.
Sarawakians wanting to come back must fill in the e-Health declaration form and apply to enter using the ENTERSARAWAK app. They will be subject to a mandatory 14 day quarantine and a Covid-19 swab test will be taken on the 2nd day. If the results are negative, the Sarawakian will be given a House Surveillance Order (HSO) and asked to continue their remaining quarantine days at home. They are also required to perform the second swab test on the 10th day of the quarantine at a nearby government medical facility. All cost of the test and quarantine will be borne by the Sarawak government.
FOR THOSE HEADING OUT OF SARAWAK
Sarawakians in essential services that need to go out of Sarawak must obtain a letter from their head of department in regards to their instruction to work outside of Sarawak in order for them to be exempted from the compulsory quarantine upon returning.
To re-enter Sarawak, they must fill in the e-Health declaration form and apply to enter Sarawak using the ENTERSARAWAK app.
They will be swabbed upon arrival in Sarawak, and will be asked to undergo quarantine HSO until the results of the swab are negative.
If they have been swabbed (and is negative for Covid-19) within the past 14 days, they need to upload a copy of the swab results when applying to return to Sarawak to avoid compulsory quarantine at dedicated quarantine centers.
The strict entry rulings above is to curb the increase of Covid-19 infections recently, and it will be implemented from 4 October 2020.
AirAsia Bhd will be introducing a new route connecting Kuching and Langkawi on November 13, 2020.
Head of Commercial Amanda Woo said the domestic market would continue to be the low-cost airline’s key focus while waiting for international borders to reopen.
“Langkawi is one of our top-performing destinations, and this thrice-weekly route will further expand our domestic network and provide better connectivity for people from both cities.
“We also hope to create opportunities for hotels, tour operators, travel providers and others by leveraging this connection between Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia,” she said in a statement today.
Woo added the all-in-fares for AirAsia’s BIG members start as low as RM59, one-way, and are available for booking at airasia.com and the AirAsia mobile app.
