Arau: The total losses suffered by 141 traders during the Perlis East Wind Festival 2025 (PAT 2025) near Arau in February, which was affected by rain, amounted to RM126,850.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Perlis Tourism, Arts and Culture and Rural Development Committee chairman Abu Bakar Hamzah stated that there were five trader lots allocated for the PAT 2025, which included Flora, Dry, Special Wet, Wet, and Food truck lots. “For the Flora Lot, the total losses were RM2,500, Dry Lot (RM13,500), Special Wet Lot (RM61,100), Wet Lot (RM45,750), and Food truck Lot (RM4,000),” he explained during a question and answer session at the Perlis State Legislative Assembly sitting at the State Assembly Complex.

Abu Bakar was responding to a query by Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak (PN-Tambun Tulang) regarding the estimated losses of entrepreneurs impacted during PAT 2025. On February 22, Bernama reported that the rice field area in Kampung Lat Seribu, Tambun Tulang near Arau, which was the location for the festival scheduled to be held from February 21 to 23, was covered in thick mud after heavy rain on February 21, necessitating the relocation of several activities.

The 13th edition of PAT 2025 was organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) in collaboration with the Perlis State Government, managed by the Perlis National Culture and Arts Department (JKKN) and the Perlis State Cultural Council. Abu Bakar mentioned that due to the adverse weather, traders registered with the organisers were relocated to the State Assembly Complex to continue their business until the end of the festival.

Furthermore, he noted that the follow-up action by the PAT 2025 organisers for the affected traders was managed by the Event Organiser, Syarikat Lanai Kijang Enterprise, which provided a consolation payment of RM35,800 to the 141 traders involved.

Abu Bakar also discussed plans for rebranding and restructuring the festival to adopt a more inclusive, dynamic, productive, and state identity-based approach for future editions. “As we have been looking at this East Wind Festival for over a decade, we need to rebrand it… among them, in terms of the duration, we need to increase it to at least two weeks. Additionally, we aim to highlight cultural activities to external communities, not just provide opportunities to the Perlis community,” he added.