By FAMAS
KAPIT: It has been disclosed that some RM48,200 in cash prizes in addition to the various challenge trophies are up for grabs during this year’s 24th Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari scheduled for April 5 to 7.
Deputy Kapit Resident, Galong Luang, who revealed this while chairing the first Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari committee meeting recently, said the prizes are for the competition’s six categories which are the Men’s Bamboo Open, Men’s Bamboo Closed, Free Style, Women’s Bamboo Closed, Paddle Boats and Best Decorated Raft.
The top winners in the Men’s Open and Paddle Boat races (to be flagged off at the first station) will each take home RM3,000 and a trophy; first runner-up – RM2,500 and a trophy; second runner-up – RM1,500 and a trophy; fourth places – RM800; fifth – RM700; sixth – RM600; and those placed seventh to tenth positions – RM500. All these winners will be given trophies.
For the Men’s Bamboo Closed, Free Style and Women’s Bamboo Closed, the champion team will receive RM2,000 and a trophy. The second prize comprises RM1,500 and a trophy; third – RM1,000 and a trophy; fourth – RM700 plus a trophy; fifth – RM600 plus a trophy; sixth – RM500 plus a trophy; and those in seventh to tenth places – RM400 plus a trophy each.
The team with the best decorated raft will receive RM1,000 and a trophy; second – RM800 and a trophy; and third – RM500 plus a trophy.
The judging for this category is based on the usage of traditional materials and design. Those rafts that failed to reach the finish point will be disqualified.
This year the first leg of the raft race is from Rumah Lugat at Nanga Semawang, Sungai Majau, Baleh on April 6.
On the second day (April 7), the flag-off venue is Rumah Ekau at Nanga Mujong, Baleh. The leg will end at Kapit Express Passenger Terminal.
A typical longboat trip from Rumah Lugat to Kapit town (depending on the boat’s engine capacity) takes between three and four hours passing along Sungai Majau, Sungai Mujong, Sungai Baleh and Batang Rajang covering a distance of 57.3 kilometres.
As such, the rafters should be able to enjoy the pristine clear water of Sungai Majau and the picturesque Iban longhouses along the route. Nowadays, the longhouses can also be reached via a rugged and winding logging road.
Rumah Lugat which has 21 “doors” (traditional number of housing units) while Rumah Ekau located about 28km from town has some 15 doors. A typical journey from Rumah Ekau to town is about one and a half hours by longboat.
The annual safari is Kapit’s major tourism event held along a tributary of Baleh River down to the Rajang River to Kapit Express Passenger Terminal.
This event helps to remind people about the importance of river transportation which is still significant to this day due to the lack of proper roads.
“It also offers the participants a rare opportunity to stay overnight in the longhouses to experience the hospitality of the Ibans,” said Galong.
The safari is organized by Kapit Resident’s Office in collaboration various government departments and agencies.
Other activities that coincide with the safari are powerboat competitions with various categories such as 18hp Tunnel Boat, 30hp Tunnel Boat and 40hp Tunnel boats.
A new race will be introduced at Rumah Lugat, that is, the Rainforest Baleh-Kapit Run to be held early in the morning of April 5. The run covers a distance of seven kilometres.
