Higher prize for Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari to attract more participants

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KAPIT: The prize money for the annual Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari has been raised to attract more participations.

When chairing the second meeting of the raft safari committee at the State Complex here on Tuesday morning, Kapit Resident Dahim Nadot disclosed that the total prize for the five categories of the raft competition had been raised to RM46,200.

He said the highest prize will be for the Men’s Bamboo Open category and the Paddle Boat category (introduced for the first time this year to replace the Tourist category), whereby winning teams will receive RM3,000, a championship trophy and the Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing Challenge Trophy and the proposed Temenggong Koh Challenge Trophy respectively.

First runner-up, he said, will receive RM2,500 and a trophy while the second runner-up will get RM1,500 and a trophy. Prizes for fourth, fifth and sixth places will be RM900, RM800 and RM700 respectively, while those in seventh to tenth placings will receive consolation prizes of RM500 each, he said.

As for the three other categories, namely Men’s Closed Bamboo, Women’s Bamboo and Men’s Free Style, winners in each category will bring home RM2,000 and a championship trophy while those in second and third places will receive RM1,500 and RM1,000 including a trophy respectively. Prizes for fourth, fifth and sixth places will be RM800, RM700 and RM600 respectively. Consolation prizes of RM300 will be given to teams finishing at seventh to tenth places.

The winner in the Men’s Closed Bamboo will also bring home the ‘Baleh Raft Safari Challenge Trophy’ while the winner in the Women’s Bamboo category will get the ‘Meligai Hotel Challenge Trophy’, whereas the winning team in Men’s Fee Style category will get to lift the ‘Datuk Billy Abit Joo Challenge Trophy’.

This year the organising committee has decided to omit the Best Decorated Raft category and include the Kayak 1Malaysia as one of the activities. Dahim, who is also the organising committee chairman, confirmed April 6-8 as the date for the safari.

“So far there is no change of the date. All systems must go by hook or by crook. The event needs to run as we do not want to disappoint those who had prepared early for the competition. As the date also coincides with Good Friday and Easter (a very special day for Christians), I hope that they can celebrate the significant day at the longhouses,” he said.

Dahim also suggested that the committee consider displaying a model of the raft and paddle boat at the compound of Fort Sylvia as a way to promote the event.

Other activities lined up for the event, he said, are ‘Bintang Kecil’ and ‘P Ramlee’ singing competitions, Hawker Fest, body building demonstration and Raft Safari Beauty contest.

The organising committee has fixed March 26 as the closing date for the submission of entry forms.

Up to date a total of fifteen teams have already registered with the organiser and many more are expected to do so.

Entry forms can be obtained from any Resident’s and district offices throughout the state, and visitors information centres in Kuching, Sibu and Miri or through their website www.kapitro.sarawak.gov.my.

This year is the 17th series of the international event since it was introduced in 1996. This time it will be held along Sungai Mujong, a tributary of the Baleh River with Rumah Salang at Pulau Sibau, Mujong as the first launching or flag-off point and Rumah Bangkong at Nanga Sebala, Mujong as the second leg or venue.

Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing is expected to officiate at the flag-off at the first station at Rumah Salang while Assistant Minister of Tourism (Local Events and Products) Datuk Gramong Juna is expected to officiate at the flag-off at the second station at Rumah Bangkong.

The prize giving ceremony for the race will be held at the finishing point at Kapit Wharf in the afternoon of April 7, which is expected to be officiated by Deputy Minister of Tourism Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit. Kapit MP Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi is expected to officiate at the side activities.

The annual event is jointly organised by Kapit Division Tourism Task Group, state Ministry of Tourism, Sarawak Tourism Board, Ministry of Tourism Malaysia and Malaysian Tourism and Promotion Board in collaboration with the various government agencies here.

Last year, the competition was held at Rumah Ajai at Sungai Majau, a tributary of Mujong river in Baleh, as the venue for the first transit and flag-off point and Rumah Anding at Sungai Sepuna, Mujong, Baleh as the second transit point.

Also at the meeting were Deputy Resident (Social) Mohd Ikhmal Abdullah, administrative officer Joseph Ikan on behalf of Kapit district officer, Broadcasting manager of RTM Central Region Albert Menteri Tudin, representatives from Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, an officer from Sarawak Tourism Board, council secretary Henry Jalin Watt, heads of various government agencies, and village headmen of the host longhouses and their committee members.