Tiong (seating sixth right), Hii (fifth right), jumpers and others give the thumbs-up to the event.
SIBU: It is hoped that Sibu International BASE Jump event will promote Sibu further in the international scene.
Chairman of Sibu Municipal Council Datuk Tiong Thai King, speaking at the opening ceremony yesterday said this was due to the professional participants (athletes) from all over the world coming here to participate in the event.
“Their participation is very meaningful as they can help to promote Sibu International BASE Jump among their fellow jumpers to jump from Wisma Sanyan here – Sarawak’s tallest building.
“Thus, the event can boost the tourism industry not only in Sibu but also in Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole,” he said at the symbolic ‘miring’ ceremony for the jump at Sibu Town Square here.
“This year is a record of sorts as we have managed to attract a big number of participants (84), the biggest since the event started in 2009. We thus urge the public to come in big numbers to give moral support to the jumpers,” he added.
He said the event this year is very special as it is held in conjuction with Visit Sibu Year (VSY) 2017.
This year’s jumpers come from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, United Kingdom, the United States and Malaysia.
Sibu Resident Hii Chang Kee, Captain A Aziz Ahmad who is president of Malaysia BASE Jump Association and Sibu BASE Jump technical advisor Gary Cunningham were also present.
The ninth edition of Sibu International BASE Jump runs from Sept 22 to 24.
The jumpers will jump from the 126-metre tall Wisma Sanyan and make their way to the open space at Sibu Town Square Phase 1. Eight of them are female. Four of the 84 are from Malaysia.
BASE is an acronym for four categories of fixed objects from which a person can jump, namely buildings, antannae, spans (bridge) and earth (cliff).