KAPIT: Baleh-Kapit Safari will be held from this 6 to 8 April and now the committee is calling for entry in the competition.
This was disclosed by Kapit Resident Joseph Belayong Punan who is the organising chairman of competition that now enters its 23rd edition since its first inception in 1996.
“This year the first leg of the Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari is from Rumah Naga Anak Sulok, at Nanga Merating, Sungai Bena a tributary of Sungai Sut, Baleh on 7 April and on the second day (8 April), the flag off point is from Rumah Bengau Anak Andah, at Lepong Sut, Baleh River to Kapit Express Passenger Terminal,” said Belayong while chairing the first committee meeting on Baleh Raft Safari for the formation of committee members on Monday.
Belayong was hopeful that this year the raft safari would be grander as it coincides with the 23rd series of the event. Many side events will be included to add merriment to the ocassion. These include ‘PestaKapit’, mini regatta (powerboat), traditional games, exhibition booths and sale of handicraft, the Resident added.
The journey from Rumah Naga at Nanga Merating, Sungai Bena, Sutto Kapit town by longboat takes between three and four hours. It passes through Sungai Bena, Sungai Sut, Baleh and finally the Rajang River where the rafters will be able to enjoy the pristine clear water of Sungai Bena and Sut while at the same time able to see a scenic view of the Iban longhouses along the rivers.
To ensure more participation to the competition this year, Belayong called on all the government agencies and community leaders to send a team.
“As compared to previous years whereby the rafting journey took between four and six hours, this year the rafting distance is very short and both of the longhouses are accessible by road, about 30 km distance from Kapit town. With this short journey we hope to get more participants this year,” said Belayong.
The annual three-day rafting conmt is Kapit’s major tourism event held along the tributary of Baleh River and paddled down to Kapit Passenger Terminal as the finishing point.
It offers the participants a rare opportunity to stay overnight to experience the hospitality of the two Iban longhouses built along the river banks.
Kapit Resident’s Office is the event’s main organiser in collaboration with Kapit Tourism Task Group and all government agencies and selected NGOs with the support from Tourism and Heritage Sarawak, Sarawak Tourism Board, Ministry of Social Development and Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board.
Competition entry forms are obtainable at the Kapit Resident’s Office during normal office hours. For further information contact the secretariat at 084-796230 or 084-796445 or through the website at www.kapitro.sarawak.gov.my.
Altogether there are six categories vied for the competitions that include the Men Open, Men Closed, Free Style, Women Closed, a new category the Paddle Boat and Best Decorated Raft. This paddle event is to remind the people of the importance of water transport in the early days which until today is still the main mode of transport in the absence of roads in Kapit area.
Attractive prizes await the winners. The champion team in the Men’s Open category will take home RM3, 000 cash prize and a trophy, while first runner-up will get RM2,500 and a trophy, followed by cash prize of RM1,500 and a trophy for the team in third place.
Meanwhile, the teams in fourth place will receive RM800 and a trophy whereas the teams placed fith and sixth place will respectively take home RM700 and RM600 plus a trophy. Teams in seventh to tenth spots receive RM500 cash and a trophy each.
For the Men Closed, Free Style, Women Closed and Paddle Boat categories, the champion team will receive RM2,000 and a trophy, while first runner-up will receive RM1,500 cash and a trophy whereas second runner-up team will earn RM1,000 and a trophy. Teams in fourth to seventh places will respectively take home cash przes of RM700, RM600 and RM500 plus a trophy each. Those getting seventh to tenth placing will receive cash prize of RM400 each accompanied by a trophy each.
Meanwhile the prize for the Best Decorated Raft category will be decided by the organising committee later.
Present at the meeting were Bukit Mabong District Officer Douglas Pungga, David Liman who private secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. James Jemut Masing and several heads of the various government departments.
