By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, Nov 20 — Ban Canal Carnival 2024, which will run from November 26 to December 1, will officially launch Visit Selangor Year 2025, said state executive councillor for local government and tourism Dato’ Ng Suee Lim.
Speaking at a press conference at Wisma DNS, Ng said the annual festival, hosted in Sabak Bernam since 2022, has become a flagship event in the Sabak Bernam Development Area (Sabda) calendar.
“The festival continues to attract attention from domestic and international crowds, serving as an excellent platform to kick off the Visit Selangor Year 2025 event calendar. We will strive for even larger turnouts in future editions,” he said here today.
This year’s festival will be launched by Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah on November 26.
Sabda chairman and state executive councillor for rural development and unity Datuk Rizam Ismail called the event an opportunity to showcase northern Selangor’s unique cultural, ecological, and gastronomical offerings.
“The festival has opened many people’s eyes to the ecological and cultural heritage of northern Selangor. From the beautiful beaches in Sabak, now popular camping spots, to the iconic paddy fields of Sekinchan, we have so much to offer,” he said.
Activities available during the Ban Canal Carnival include a kayak marathon, dragon boat and traditional boat races, a padi field run, Jualan Ehsan Rahmah stalls, and a concert, among others.
All activities are free for the public.
[caption id="attachment_380588" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Participants of a kayak race seen during Ban Canal Carnival 2023 in Parit 14, Sabak Bernam, on December 10, 2023. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Meanwhile, Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) chief executive officer Saipolyazan M. Yusop said this year’s festival is set to draw over 20,000 visitors, up from 10,000 in 2023 and 3,000 in 2022.
“This growth shows the festival is gaining momentum. We aim to support this endeavour to showcase northern Selangor’s ecological treasures, which are fast becoming popular attractions among local tourists,” he said.
The carnival is part of Sabda’s broader efforts to promote eco-tourism and agro-tourism, driving local economic growth and reinforcing Selangor’s appeal as a key tourism destination.
Ban Canal, also known as “Bangkenal”, is a significant structure that was originally constructed through a collaborative effort between local villagers and the British during the colonial period.
The canal begins in Tanjong Karang and connects to Sungai Tengi via a sluice gate, and is designed as an irrigation system for nearby padi fields in Tanjong Karang and Sabak Bernam.
For more information on the festival, the people can visit Sabda’s Instagram account.
