320 teams to compete in ‘Race for Peace’ regatta

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POWERING AHEAD: Paddlers of the highly fancied Land and Survey Department (LANDAS) boat, is seen paddling during their training session at the Sarawak River yesterday. Winners of many boat races across Sarawak, LANDAS are still the team to beat at the 2012 Sarawak Regatta.

KUCHING: A total of 6,353 paddlers from 320 teams have confirmed their participation in the Sarawak Regatta from Sept 14 to 16 at the Sarawak River.

The two-kilometre regatta themed ‘the race for peace’ will be divided into 15 categories- including three international races of the tourism category.

Speaking to The Borneo Post yesterday the organising secretary Paul Kawin Pipo revealed that the theme of the regatta has a momentous account in the history of Sarawak during Charles Vyner Brooke’s rule.

Paul added that the theme would also remind us the need and the significance for peace and harmony amongst the different races and religions in Malaysia.

He also disclosed that this year’s highlights include The Head of State Challenge Trophy race and the ‘Brooke Swim’ event.

“The swim event is to symbolise an incident when James Brooke has to swim across the Sarawak River to escape from the marauding rebels attacking the Astana in the 1870s,” Paul informed.

Other attractive programmes includes traditional and modern water sports and folks games like climbing the greased poles, catching ducks and “pillow fights”.

There will be Indonesian cultural shows, regatta Kebaya pageant and regatta idol performances organised by the main committees of the event.

The regatta is an annual state event organised by the Kuching  Resident and District Office endorsed by the state government and supported by the various leading agencies namely Sarawak Tourism Board, STIDC Sarawak, Sarawak Tourism Federation, Tourism Malaysia, and private agencies’ sponsors.

Meanwhile head of district police traffic DSP Amihizam Abdul Shukur on Tuesday urged members of the public to cooperate with the police as main roads- Jalan Market/Jalan Gambier/Jalan Power, Jalan Khoo Hun Yeang (BP Sentral) and Jalan Main Bazaar/Jalan Wayang leading to waterfront would be closed from 6am to midnight.

Amihizam Abdul Shukur suggested the drivers to use alternative roads namely Jalan Padungan and Jalan P Ramlee and could park their vehicles at Saujana Building, Menara Pelita, Reservoir Park, Kuching Civic Centre’, Hills and Pullman, Medan Kereta and Parkson shopping mall