BANGKA TENGAH -- To enliven the 80th Anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence Day, PT Timah provided support to the Komunitas Peduli Kampung (Village Care Community) of Baskara Bakti Village, Bangka Tengah Regency, which will host a series of competitions on September 6.
The community group is organizing various events under the theme “Menuang Beach Festival,” aimed at attracting tourists to visit Menuang Beach, a destination rich in local wisdom.
“For the Menuang Festival, we will hold several activities including a fun walk, a fishing net pulling contest, and competitions for children and women. These activities are also part of celebrating Independence Day,” said Nurkholis, Chairman of Komunitas Peduli Kampung.
According to him, this is the first time they are holding such an event, with support from PT Timah Tbk.
Nurkholis explained that the competitions are intended to highlight the tourism value of Menuang Beach.
“This beach is the result of reclamation carried out by PT Timah together with the community, and we want to introduce it to a wider audience so it can become a source of local economic growth,” he said.
They are also featuring a net-pulling contest, inspired by the traditional activity often carried out by local and visiting fishermen in the area. The goal is to showcase to tourists that beyond leisure, the beach also provides valuable marine resources such as shrimp, fish, and crabs.
“We also hope this event can create economic opportunities for fishermen, for example by renting out their boats to tourists who want to explore the waters around our village,” he added.
He expressed his gratitude for PT Timah’s ongoing support and collaboration, noting that the company had previously partnered with them for mangrove planting initiatives.
“Hopefully, this will become a regular event to promote our beach. We will continue collaborating with different groups to organize other activities, such as scout camping and more. We are very grateful that once again PT Timah is the main sponsor of our festival. We hope this collaboration continues to grow,” he said.
Meanwhile, Asmawati, Chair of the Festival Committee, expressed her hope that the Menuang Beach Festival could become an annual tradition.
“Hopefully, this festival will be held every year in Baskara Bakti Village and help drive the local economy, especially for MSMEs. With more visitors and tourists, our small businesses can grow while promoting our beach and its marine products,” she said.
She added that Menuang Beach offers various attractions, including a pond that serves as a popular fishing spot and stunning sunset views.
“We hope PT Timah will continue to support us, and we also encourage the community to realize that PT Timah is willing to collaborate with the people, not only seeking profits. Hopefully, PT Timah will continue to synergize with us in building Bangka Belitung in the future,” she concluded.
