Indonesian riders say Borneo tour a joy ride
MIRI: Borneo is still a safe place for leisure riding and adventure.
This was proven by three riders from Jakarta, Indonesia - Adi Dewanto, 51, Akbar Ramadhan, 28, and Wisnu Adi S, who started their journey from Banjar Masin in South Kalimantan on Dec 13, last year, traversing through Sabah and Sarawak, and hopefully to be back to Banjar Masin soon.
“Borneo is a safe place for locals and tourists alike to traverse. Its multi-racial and multi-religious people are very friendly and helpful. They are always ready to assist us along the way,”Akbar said when met on arrival here from Brunei yesterday evening.
On arrival, the trio was welcomed by members of various local clubs including Skuad JPJ Miri.
According to Akbar, they rode Yamaha scooters ( Nouvo, NMax and N-VX models) for the journey. They faced various obstacles at Balik Papan where the roads are not tar- sealed.
Borneo is a safe place for locals and tourists alike to traverse. Its multi-racial and multi-religious people are very friendly and helpful. They are always ready to assist us along the way.
They also passed through several villages along the way.
“This is the first ‘ Indonesian Scooter Group Tour 360’ of Borneo starting at Banjar Masin,” he said.
Akbar said they were earlier informed by friends in Jakarta that the route they were about to take was dangerous; having to go through many towns and villages populated by people of various races who might be not friendly.
“They are wrong. The people of Borneo are friendly,” he said.
Adi meanwhile said the people they met along the way were indeed very friendly.
“Fellow bikers in Tawau and other places in Sabah, and Miri, in fact assisted us along the way.
“The only obstacle we faced was the sandy road condition we had to endure in Balik Papan. The roads from Sabah to Miri are all tar-sealed.
“The people we met were indeed very friendly and helpful,” he said.
Abu Bakar Kalong who represented various motorcycle clubs in Miri said they welcomed the Indonesian riders on arrival at Sungai Tujuh Immigration Check Point yesterday evening.
He said they would ride with them ( Indonesian riders) to Bintulu this (yesterday) evening while their counterparts in Bintulu would accompany them to Sibu later.
“This is the spirit of brotherhood among us riders, regardless of our origin. We welcome them to Miri with an open heart,” Abu Bakar said.
Meanwhile, Wong Motors Miri was glad to provide free services for the three scooters.
Akbar Ramadhan, Indonesian rider