KAPIT: The international rafting events will be continued from year to year in the time to come, said Kapit Division Resident Joseph Belayong who is the organising chairman of Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari held from 7 to 8 April.
“Compared to last year, we have some 35 teams that include participation from Miri, SEB, Kuching, Sibu, Belaga and the local community. The races took more than four hours journey on Saturday and Sunday. On the first day the competition began from Rumah Naga to Rumah Benggau that took about two hours and on the second day from Rumah Benggau to Kapit Terminal also took about two hours.
“The distance this year is shorter when compared to the previous years that took about eight to ten hours. As the participants complained that the distance was too long, thus this year the distance is much shorter,” Belayong said to the press when met at Kapit Wharf Terminal while awaiting for the arrival of the rafting participants on Sunday morning.
He hoped that in the years to come, more people could participate because this event is both for the locals and outsiders adding that many other side activities would also be held to coincide with the programme.
Next year the event is to be held in April and the destination has not been decided yet. The date and the venue are to be decided later, Belayong said. He assured that the route is definitely at different area and river in order to cover as many areas as possible.
Commenting on the raft safari, Belayong said this year is very much improved as compared to the previous year as there 35 teams partook in it this year as compared to 26 in 2017.
“We will continue this rafting event with various sub-activities. If we only organise the powerboat races, the rural people would not enjoy it. So, rafting must be held,” he said.
He thanked the hardworking organising committee of the Tourism Task Force Group Kapit Division who have been working relentlessly by ensuring that Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari is successfully organised this year.
“Baleh-Kapit Raft safari is one of the events listed within the Tourism Calendar of Sarawak. So far this event is well-known not only within the state of Sarawak but also the nationwide. In recent years, this event had attracted participation from the Semenanjung Malaysia and abroad. For some, Baleh-Kapit Raft safari is not all about winning the prizes, but also leaving a wonderful memory for the visitors and participants alike,” said the Resident.
Apart from paddling the rafts, Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari 2018 is also integrated with Kapit District Council’s Pesta Kapit to cheer up the town,
While waiting for the rafts to arrive at the finishing line at Kapit Express Passenger Terminal, the spectactors were amazed by the roaring sound from Powerboat Competitions organised by Kapit Division Powerboat Association (KADPA). Kapit is an ideal environment for such watersport and KADPA was able to attract not only participants from other regions in Sarawak but also the visitors and participants from Brunei as well in the previous years.
The occupants of Rumah Naga are well known for their craftsmanship in ‘Ai Tuak’(Iban traditional rice wine) making.
For nature-loving visitors, the crystal clear and cold Bena water promises them good swimming and bathing experience. The route along the river is partially shaded by the natural canopy of growths along the riverbanks and will surely provide a little comfort to the raft safari participants while they are going down the stream.
The occupants of this longhouse are mostly women and children apart from the elderly because most of its young occupants have gone for better job opportunities abroad. April is a post-harvesting season and most of the occupants can be seen processing their paddy harvest inside and outside the house.
Meanwhile for Rumah Benggau, the 23-door modern Iban longhouse has won three Anugerah Desa Perdana awards namely the district level, state level and national level including the Prime Minister’s award.
Among those present at the Kapit Passenger Terminal awaiting the arrival of the rafts were Deputy Resident Galong Luang, administrative officer in Kapit Resident’s office BelayongPok, Kapit Police chief, DSP Freddy Bian, heads of departments ,community leaders and a big number of spectators.
