1Singai Tondong centre syncs with youths

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The representatives of the biker groups pose for a group photo with Henry (standing, centre) and Benson (front row, fourth left) after the presentation of souvenirs upon completion of the convoy.

The representatives of the biker groups pose for a group photo with Henry (standing, centre) and Benson (front row, fourth left) after the presentation of souvenirs upon completion of the convoy.

Henry (left) presents a souvenir to a representative from the Lady Bikers Group. Benson is at second right (partly hidden).

Henry (left) presents a souvenir to a representative from the Lady Bikers Group. Benson is at second right (partly hidden).

High-powered motorcycles line up near the spot at 1Singai Tondong where the bikers take their rest under a canopy.

High-powered motorcycles line up near the spot at 1Singai Tondong where the bikers take their rest under a canopy.

BAU: The 1Singai Tondong Commercial Centre, located midway of the Batu Kawah-Bau-Lundu Road, continues to be a favourite place for youths to hold healthy activities.

The latest event to be hosted there was a big bike convoy recently, which involved 400 motorcycles of different power and make.

The organiser Biker’s Dayak Borneo (BDB) had made 1Singai Tondong as the meeting and finishing point.

The event managed to attract and gather big bike enthusiasts, irrespective of age and ethnic groups, via promotion on social media apps such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

Its chairman Benson Rasit said the convoy’s route was 250km. The bikers began their journey at 11am from 1Singai Tondong to Matang and then to Rambungan and Sampadi towards Lundu, and rode on to Sematan, before returning via the Lundu-Bau Road and arriving back at 1Singai Tondong at 4pm.

“We are delighted with the tremendous response to today’s (Sunday) activity. Initially, we planned to gather only 100 bikers. To our surprise, the response was so good that we managed to gather 400 bikers from 30 groups.

“In fact, this is our first activity for this year, and we are happy that fellow bikers support this programme and come in full force at 1Singai Tondong, which is a strategic meeting point,” he said when met at the end of the convoy.

Making the convoy even more significant was the participation of chief executive officer of Putra Sentosa Group of Companies, Dato Henry Harry Jinep who took part in the big bike activity for the first time.

Benson said the participants were delighted that Henry had joined them, and he was confident that the participation of a corporate figure in the convoy would prove to others that big bike activities were healthy, unlike what their detractors thought.

“For example, in this convoy, we emphasise not just on road safety but also road courtesy. This is an important aspect that we aim to inculcate in the big bikers, especially our new members.

“We also hold this activity to make new friends and for networking,” he said, adding that the convoy — led by experienced captain Bronnie Marshall — also stopped to have lunch at Kem Putra Sentosa in Sematan.

On future activities, he revealed plans to hold a Bau Bikers Week to be held within the next few months.

“We hope that through such an activity, we could dispel the negative perception that others have on this hobby of ours.”

Meanwhile, Henry — who rode a Honda CB500 — said he was delighted with the experience gained from the convoy, especially the lesson on road courtesy when needing to overtake other vehicles.

He was also happy that the organisers chose to hold the starting and finishing point at 1Singai Tondong, which was developed by Putra Sentosa Development Sdn Bhd and launched by Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud last year.

“I am glad that this place gives a sense of belonging to our youths. The 1Singai Tondong is a strategic location as a transit point. The new developments taking place around the area, including the Pan Borneo Highway project, will encourage more business opportunities, which I hope would be tapped by our local young people,” he said.

He also mentioned that Kota Gading Driving Institute was offering 10 to 15 per cent discounts on full B (motorcycle) licence classes for the big bikers, and D and D (automatic) licences for car drivers till end of this week.