KAPIT : Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing flagged off the 22nd edition of Baleh Kapit Raft Safari 2017 at the second transit point at Rumah Along, Nanga Majau, Mujong Baleh on Sunday morning.
He arrived at Rumah Along by helicopter at 4.30pm on Saturday and after the “miring” (ritual offering) ceremony, he commissioned the steel bridge of the longhouse and attended a fire fighting demonstration in front of the longhouse.
Later in the evening, Masing attended a meet-the- people session held in conjunction with the annual raft race.
Speaking at the function, the Minister pointed out that the rafting competition had brought changes to the rural folks while providing a venue for the local community leaders to meet and foster closer rapport among themselves.
With proper promotion, the raft safari, he added, could lure foreign tourists to the division.
He lauded the participation of the CMS team led by its CEO, Dato’ Richard Curtis. “You came here all the time for six years to take part and support the rafting event despite losing over and over again. This is the spirit we should learn. We should never give up,” said Masing.
At the function, he announced a grant of RM20,000 to the Village Development and Security Committee of Rumah Along and another RM10,000 to the Women Bureau of the longhouse.
Meanwhile, CMS contributed RM20,000 to the Baleh Kapit Raft Safari Committee. Presenting the cheque on behalf of the company was its CEO, Dato’ Richard Curtis while Masing received the cheque on behalf of the committee.
Present were the organising chairman and Kapit Resident, Joseph Belayong Punan, Masing’s wife, Puan Sri Corrine Masing, Member of Parliament for Hulu Rajang, Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, State Assemblyman for Ngemah, Alexander Vincent and Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Nicholas Kudi Jantai
On the second and final day, the first raft to arrive at the finishing point at Kapit Express Passenger Terminal Wharf belonged to the PBB Sarawak team which competed in the Men’s Bamboo Closed Category.
The team, which arrived at 12.21pm, claimed the fastest time of 4 hours 48 minutes and 29 seconds.
Meanwhile, the last raft to arrive at the finishing point belonged to the 9 Workshop Briged who took part in the Men’s Bamboo Closed Category. The team, which took six hours 48 minutes and 30 seconds to complete the race, arrived at 2.48pm.
The second team to arrive at the finishing point was the Dewan Suarah team at 12.40pm, followed by the LANDAS team at 12.44am.
The total distance from Rumah Ansie at Sungai Majau to the finishing point at Kapit wharf is about 70 kms.
The distance from Rumah Ansie to Rumah Along is 16 kms while the distance from Rumah Along to Kapit is 54 kms.
