BINTULU (Oct 1): The 17th Borneo International Kite Festival (BIKF) was an excellent bonding experience for families, kite enthusiasts, and traders, said Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) deputy chairman Dato Haidar Khan Asghar Khan.

In his speech during a dinner on Sunday to mark the end of the festival, Haidar shared an anecdote of a cherish childhood memory, remarking that at 12 years old, he had struggled to design a kite capable of flying.

He added that his late father, described as a kind yet stern man, noticed his struggle and subsequently helped him to craft a kite capable of enduring the toughest winds.

“That day, I saw my father in a new light; not as the strict figure I used to fear, but as a loving parent. With that, my kite flew the highest in the sky, symbolising our newfound bond.

“This personal experience mirrored the essence of what BIKF offers attendees. It means to strengthen bonds, not just between parents and children, but also between BDA and the Bintulu community, as well as local and international kite flyers,” he said.

Moreover, Haidar pointed out that this year’s unpredictable weather limited kite flyers’ opportunities to showcase their skills and kite designs.

“The skies, usually blanketed with vibrant skies, were less colourful this year. Despite these challenges, the sight of thousands of families gathered from Lasar Kenyalang to Paragon on the last day of BIKF, with kites soaring high, made all the struggles over the past few days worthwhile,” he said.

Reflecting on the festival, he expressed his gratitude for the wealth of activities it offered, from kite flying and street parade, to stage performances and interactive kite making workshops.

“These experiences opened new doors and possibilities for future editions of BIKF, promising to be bigger and better,” he added.

Meanwhile, during the dinner, thirteen awards were presented to honour the kite flying participants.

The recipients were Roger Tessa Gambassi from France for the ‘Most Vibrant Kite’; team Blue Sky of Vietnam (Longest Kite); Craig Harby from Scotland (Largest Kite).

Sari Sabda Bhakti Madjid and Tinton Prianggoro from Indonesia won the ‘Best Rokkaku Showdown’, while Kevin and Linda Sanders from Australia were recognised for the ‘Most Creative Wind Garden’, as team Korea received the ‘Most Unique Kite’ award.

Additionally, Dirk and Sonia Kruger from Germany were honoured as the ‘Most Outstanding Couple’; while China’s Monica Lou Chun Ling and Germany’s Andres Fischbacher were named the ‘Most Outstanding Female and Male Kite Flyers’, respectively.

Awarded as the ‘Most Dedicated Flyer’ was Konstantin Ratsos and Theodorus Manousaridis from Greece, while Leong Chee Wan from Kuala Lumpur received the ‘Most Creative Kite’ award, as Bintulu’s Abdul Rahman Sulaiman was honored as BIKF’s longest-serving crew member.

Among those present to bid farewell to the kite flyers were BDA general manager Datu Muhamad Yakup Kari, deputy general manager Abdul Rahim Abdullah, Deputy Resident of Bintulu Abang Zainuddin Abang Turkey, Bintulu Port Authority general manager Mizool Amir Mat Derus, Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad group chief executive officer Ruslan Abdul Ghani, and Fred Taylor representing international kite flyers.