ENTRIES BY SEPT 30 NOON: Fredrick (right) chairing the raft safari committee meeting on Friday, with entry deadline set.
KAPIT: Winners of the 18th series of Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari slotted from Oct 4 to 6 stand to win some RM41,500 in cash prizes and challenge trophies for the various categories.
The prizes are for the six categories namely the Men Bamboo Open, Men Bamboo Closed, Free Style, Women Bamboo Closed, Paddle Boat and Best Decorated Raft.
The winners for the Men’s Open and the Paddle Boat category will bring home the RM3,000 cash prize and a trophy, first runner up, RM2500 and a trophy, second runner up, RM1500 and a trophy while those placed fourth to tenth places will receive the consolation prizes of RM800 each.
For the Men’s Bamboo Closed, Free Style and Women Bamboo Closed , the champion team will receive RM2,000 and a trophy, RM1500 and a trophy for the second place winner , RM1,000 and a trophy for third place while those teams placed fourth to tenth places will receive the consolation prize of RM500 each.
In the Best Decorated Raft category, the champion team will receive RM1,000 and a trophy, winner of second place RM800 and a trophy and the third place winner to receive RM500 and a trophy respectively.
The best decorated raft category would be judged based on the traditional materials used and the design. In addition, the raft must reach the finishing point in order to qualify.
Kapit Resident Fredrick John George, who is the organising chairman of the raft safari said this when chairing the sixth committee meeting at the State Office Complex on Friday.
According to Fredrick, the first leg of the raft safari would be from Rumah Undi, Bena Sungai Sut on Oct 5 and the next day the flagging off would be from Rumah Juntan, Nanga Elik, Sungai Sut, Baleh River to Kapit Express Passenger Terminal.
Fredrick said the two venues for the race this year are accessible by road from the town.
“This gives the race an added advantage and we are hopeful of attracting more participants to the competition,” said Fredrick.
He said the competition this year is more grand as it coincides with the 50th Anniversary of Sarawak Independence within Malaysia.
According to Fredrick, the organising committee has fixed 12 noon on Sept 30 as the closing date for submission of the entry forms.
The forms can be obtained at the Resident Office Kapit during working hours. For further information call the secretariat at 084-796230 or 084-796445 or log on to the website at www.kapitro.sarawak.gov.my.
The competition is organised by Kapit Resident Office in collaboration with Kapit Tourism Task Group, government agencies and selected NGOs with the support of Tourism and Heritage Sarawak, Sarawak Tourism Board, Ministry of Social Development and Tourism Promotion Board Malaysia.