KAMPAR: After receiving brickbats and criticism, organiser Sahom Valley Resort has decided change the name of its Songkran Festival programme to Sahom Water Festival.
Sahom Valley Resort managing director Shariff Ali Jabad Ali said the decision to rebrand the programme scheduled for August 26 and 27 was made to avoid controversy and to ward off the stigma of some parties towards the holding of the event.
"The first programme organised in May was welcomed by almost 500 visitors and we hoped that the use of the word 'Songkran' this time would be able to attract more visitors but it has become the subject of criticism by several quarters.
"So in order to ease the community's perception and respect all parties, the programme is rebranded as Water Festival because Songkran is a sensitive issue even though it was just a perception and we apologise for the confusion over the matter," he said in a press conference today.
Shariff said, the water festival should not be see as a Siamese Songkran festival but only as a water activity for the visitors.
"The organisers admitted a mistake for using the term 'Songkran Festival' in our announcement last week, but our intention was not to follow the same as the Songkran Festival, that was our own mistake as there was no intention to observe religious events or customs like in the neighbouring countries.
"We take note of the remarks and suggestions from all parties, especially the Tualang Sekah assemblyman's office, including villagers who question why we use the term Songkran Festival and we admit our mistake," he said.
He said that the purpose of organising the programme also played a role in improving the economy of the local population and attracting more tourists to the district
"We have many chalet operators in Sahom and we receive many visitors from within Perak including those who come from Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Kedah.
"So with the programme on August 26 and 27, we hope people will come to join the Water Festival while having fun with their families," he added.
Earlier the Kampar Pas Youth Council (DPPK) strongly protested the holding of the Songkran Festival which was said to be taking place at Sahom Valley Resort.
Its Youth chief Saiful Islam Abdul Rahman regretted the open announcement to the community by the organisers to attend the festival which clearly contradicts the principles of Islam.-- BERNAMA