KAPIT: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing said that the number of participants in the Baleh Kapit Raft Safari has gone down to only 25 this year.
“Part of it may be due to the economy which has also gone down a bit. Moreover there are a lot of activities going on now. Some are taking part in the ‘Power Boat Racing’ and ‘Mountain Bike Challenge’.
There are so many activities at one time so that perhaps could lead to the drop in the number of participants in the rafting event,” he said to the press while waiting for the arrival of the rafting participants at Kapit Express Boats Terminal yesterday morning.
The Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari was introduced by Masing in 1996 when he was the Assistant Minister for Tourism.
The objectives of the event are to create activities in longhouses in his Baleh constituency and also to promote Kapit as a premier destination of CAN (culture, adventure and nature) to attract tourists to Kapit.
“We used to have 70 to 80 rafts in the old days but at that time the economy was good. Following the decline we have to look at the frequency of holding the event. Should we hold it twice a year or once in two years.
We don’t know, let the Kapit Resident Office look into that and see what we can do. But certainly we will maintain the event (Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari) because it is good for the people in the longhouses. This is the only activity they can take part in apart from the annual Gawai celebration,” he added.
Masing also disclosed that it was expensive to organise the rafting event.
“It is expensive to organise the rafting event. But I am fortunate that many business people in this Division give their full support to it including the Power Boat Racing and Mountain Bike Challenge. I am thankful to them because we need such support to make this event succeeds,” he said.
There are five categories in the event namely Men’s Bamboo Open, Men’s Bamboo Closed (Inter Department), Women’s Bamboo Open, Free Style and Paddle Boat which are open to both men and women.
Five teams in the Men’s Bamboo Open, five in the Women’s Bamboo Open, three in the Paddle Boat Category, two in the Men’s Free Style and 10 teams in both the Men’s Closed Category and Inter Department Categories.
The paddle boat category is meant to remind the people on the importance of water transport in the early days which until today is still the main mode of transportation in the absence of roads.
The first flag off point for this year’s Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari which started on 1 April was at Rumah Ansi, Nanga Sepajie at Sungai Majau, a tributary of Mujong River.
The flagging off ceremony was officiated at by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. James Jemut Masing.
The trip from Rumah Ansi, Nanga Sepajie at Sungai Majau from Kapit by longboat is six to seven hours on the Rajang River, Baleh River, Sungai Mujong and Sungai Majau.
The rafters will be able to enjoy the pristine water of Sungai Majau and at the same time able to see scenic view of Iban longhouses along the river. Rumah Ansi is a 29-door longhouse.
The Sungai Majau has numerous boulders and rocks which pose danger to riverine users. However, that is good because it will make the rafting competition more challenging.
Meanwhile, the second flag off point for the raft race was at Rumah Along, Nanga Majau.
This year is the 22nd series of the annual international rafting competition since it was introduced in 1996. Apart from the raft race, the organising committee has also included the Kapit Powerboat Competition at Kapit Riverfront from 1-2 April.
A new event to attract more people was the Mountain Bike Challenge with the starting point at the Katibas Bridge in Song District passing through the partially completed Kapit-Song Road and finishing at Kapit Town Square, a total distance of 48 kilometres.
The rafting event is Kapit’s major tourism event held annually from upper Baleh River down to Kapit Passenger Boat Terminal as the finishing point.
The three-day event offers participants a rare opportunity to stay overnight at two Iban longhouses to experience their culture and hospitality.
Among those present were Pelagus Assemblyman, Wilson Nyabong Ijang, Ngemah Assemblyman, Alexander Vincent, Murum Assemblyman, Chukpai Ugon, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Nicholas Kudi Jantai, First Division Infantry Commander Major General Datuk Stephen Mundaw, Commander of 31st Infantry Brigade Brigadier General Dato Fadzil Tajudin, Deputy Commander Regiment 510 Territorial Army, Lieutenant Colonel Jagjit Singh, Major Pahot Joll, Lieutenant Colonel Mohd Zaini Hasshim, OCPD Kapit DSP Freddy Bian the organising chairman Joseph Belayong who is also Kapit Resident, Deputy Kapit Resident Galong Luang, Bukit Mabong District Officer Douglas Pungga, Kapit District Officer Elvis Didit, Walikota of Kapit, Philimon Nuing, Secretary of Kapit District Council, Jabang Juntan and heads of government departments and local community leaders.
