Regatta a testament of racial harmony

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MARUDI: April 6 will mark the 112th anniversary of the long boat race held on the Baram river in the north of Sarawak, now more popularly known as the Baram Regatta.

For the people of Baram especially the Iban, Kenyah, Kayan, Lirong and Madang, the regatta began with boats having from 60 to 70 oarsmen.

Conflicts and headhunting among the natives in the Baram Valley in the early days prompted the colonial Rajah to set up an administrative centre in Marudi in 1883 which then was known as Claudetown, located on the side of a hill along the riverbank.

Here, “White Rajah” Claude de Crespigny with the assistance of two district officers, a 30-strong company of soldiers and several native policemen began to administer the new colonial outpost of Baram.

Initially there was resistance to the new “rulers” but a few years later the Kayan community accepted them as the masters and agreed to pay annual assesment amounting to two dollars per household.

In 1884, Charles Hose was posted to Baram to serve as a cadet officer in the Sarawak Civil Service and thereafter rose up the ranks to become Resident (of Baram) in 1891.

Whilst in Baram, Hose organised a peace council from April 6 to 8, 1899, at his fort, also known as Hose Fort, which led to the organising of the Baram Regatta to stop inter-ethnic conflicts prevailing then.

It turned out to be a huge success in ending the conflicts, which has lasted to this day.

When the competition ended on April 9, 1899, the communities gathered together to celebrate with a free flow of ‘tuak’ (rice wine) before they went back to their respective villages.

Following this, the trienniel regatta was eagerly awaited by the communities just as the Hari Gawai (harvest festival), Aidilfitri and Christmas.

For the communities, the regatta symbolised the birth of harmony among them irrespective of religion or political leanings.

When it is time for the regatta, besides the locals, people come in droves to Marudi from as far away as Kuching, Miri and Brunei to witness the four-day event (now), including VIPs like the Yang Dipertua Negeri, Chief Minister and the Sultan of Brunei.

For community leader Abdullah Piee, 63,  the regatta is a unique event as it involves a boat type known as the Bidar (mostly used in Kuching and Mukah) and Temuai (in Baram).

He said in the 1970s, the regatta was organised annually but because of  cost factors it was held bienially in the 1980s and 1990s, but from 2008 the regatta was elevated to international status and is now again held triennially.

“Now Marudi is jam-packed with hotels all full during the regatta where participation exceeds 3000 people involving more than 100 teams,” he told Bernama.

He said the regatta was also a boon for the various communities in Baram as its provided an opportunity to make additional income from selling food and local produce.

He added that a better road link with Miri would give the regatta a further boost as presently riverine transport played a more important role for Marudi and nearby Long lama. — Bernama