BIRD COMPETITION GOES INTO MALAYSIA BOOK OF RECORDS

KOTA BAHARU (Kelantan, Malaysia), July 5 (Bernama) -- The 'candik'(tweeter)
bird competition held in conjunction with the east coast state of Kelantan 2011
Cultural Arts Festival here entered the Malaysia Book of Records for having
1,294 birds taking part in it.

State local government and tourism committee chairman Takiyuddin Hassan said
the festival targeted to get 30,000 visitors to the four-day event, which
started on Friday at the compound of Stadium Sultan Muhammed IV here.

The bird competition, he said, was a side activity to attract tourists
to visit Kelantan, which was hoping to have 5.3 million visitors this year.

"At first, we aimed to have only 1,000 bird participants," he said.

Takiyuddin said the festival, organised by the state government, through the
Tourist Information Centre covered three events that were held simultaneously,
the Pesta Nasi 100, Festival Batik Songket & Craft and the Culture Carnival.

In addition, several interesting events were also being held to include the
'Battle of Jogho' beating of the giant drum and 'dikir barat' competition among
the local authorities.