TAWAU: The annual dragon boat race held in front of the Sabindo coastal road yesterday could become a tourist attraction for the district and should be included in the district’s tourism calender.
Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) president Alijus Sipil said the 32nd edition of the event would be able to attract tourists that visited Tawau and since it is an annual program, he recommended that it be listed in the calendar of TMC’s tourism committee.
Alijus, who flagged off the race yesterday morning, congratulated the Federation of Tawau Chinese Associations, Major Datuk Yong Chi Fui and organizing committee for being able to attract a total of 18 teams from NGOs, government departments and corporations, including a team from Sandakan.
“Congratulations, this program is able to attract tourists that visit the area Tawau since this program is an annual event in this area and I suggest that it is listed in the calendar of Tawau Municipal Council tourism committee,” he said.
And he hoped in the future, the organizers can invite more teams from outside the area and its immediate neighbors to participate in this dragon boat competition.
Alijus also said TMC welcomed water sports programs organized by any sports organization to enrich the recreational activities for Tawau.
The 32nd Dragon Boat Race was divided into three catergories – Pure Chinese Association, Mixed Open Team and Men’s Open Team.
In the Pure Chinese Association, the champion was Federation of Tawau Chinese Associations followed by Sunday Hash and Sandakan Tongkang in second and third places respectively.
The Mixed Open Team champion was PPPC Tawau, PDRM second and Real Tawau third and for the Men’s Open Team, champion Teck Guan Trading Sdn Bhd finished first, Putra Gym second and Sedafiat S/B Hospital Tawau third.