KUCHING: The seventh edition of the Sarawak Regatta will see 47 teams from 13 countries competing in this year’s Sarawak International Dragon Boat Race, the biggest participation thus far.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the event to be held in conjunction with the Sarawak Regatta-Kuching Waterfront Festival would be held over two consecutive weekends.
The Sarawak International Dragon Boat Race will take place on Oct 26-27, followed by the Sarawak Regatta’s boat races on Nov 1-3.
“This year we will have participants from 13 countries with over 1,300 paddlers competing in five categories for the overall cash prizes worth RM58,830 and trophies.
“The categories are International Premier Open’s 20 crews, International Permit Open’s 12 crews, International Premier Women 12 crews, International Premier 12 mix and International Master 12 crews (Age 40 and above),” he told during a press conference at Baitulmakmur Building here yesterday.
Abdul Karim revealed that the new comer to the competition is the United States, participating for the first time with 65 paddlers, while Brunei will be sending 10 teams for the competition.
Other countries include China, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Earlier, Abdul Karim received the mock cheques from the event’s sponsors Petronas (RM500,000), Petra Energy Bhd (RM100,000), JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration (Malaysia) Ltd and Ta Ann Holdings Bhd with RM30,000 respectively.
As such, the Sarawak Regatta will feature 13 categories including ‘perahu balok’, ‘perahu bidar’ and ‘perahu kenyalang’. It is expected that there would be larger participation this year with a total prize money of RM240,000.
The Tourism, Arts and Culture minister added that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is expected to officiate at the Sarawak Regatta and perform the Eye-Dotting ceremony on Oct 26.
The most anticipated event of the Sarawak Regatta is the crowning of ‘King of the River’ scheduled on Nov 3 and to be witnessed by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.
The Kuching Waterfront Festival will feature craft and food festivals, cultural performances, karaoke (Waterfront Idol), and a ‘Sound from Borneo’ concert.
“We expect that this year’s Sarawak Regatta would attract more tourists from all over the world and achieve the state’s target of five million tourists into the state,” added Abdul Karim.
He also pointed out that the target for the craft festival is RM900,000 but it could be more as the event is held towards the end of the month.
Also present were Petronas Sarawak general manager Zulaihi Mohd Mantali, Petra Energy Bhd chairman Tan Sri Sulong Matjeraie, and Petra Resources Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Mohamad Subky Bustari.
