Beach, old airstrip perfect for extreme sports

Lutong Beach and the old Lutong airstrip are perfect venues for paragliding, paramotoring, drag cars and motorcycle racing, and should not be turned into venues for other purposes.

Miri MP Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng said both venues have in fact been used by youths here and from as far as Singapore and Brunei, to conduct extreme sports events since the past seven years.

“Unfortunately, both places have been sold and Mirians, especially the youths, are unhappy with the state government’s action, “he told a press conference here yesterday.

It was reported that entrance to the old airstrip was blocked last month, preventing people and vehicles from entering the place.

According to Dr Teo, who is also chairman of Paragliding and Paramotoring Club here, the beach front was a perfect venue for extreme sports and also an idle place to unwind after a hard day’s work.

The old airstrip, meanwhile, has been used by youths from all over the state and from Brunei and Indonesia to conduct drag car races and motorcycle racing.

“Paragliding and paramotoring have bright future in Sarawak, but unfortunately, the land ( Lutong Beach and the old airstrip) that used to hold the activities have been sold.

“Where are they going to conduct these games and where else can Mirians hold their picnics,” Dr Teo lamented, adding that he would bring the issue to the relevant authorities with the view to return the land to their original state.

A paramotoring enthusiast, Pendi Mohamad, meanwhile said the government should not sell the land which has been used by youths to conduct extreme sports.

“We have been using the land for years and now it is taken away. I am appealing to the state government to gazette the land as a public park and an extreme sport centre,” he said.

Meanwhile, four paragliders were seen being flown at Lutong Beach yesterday while the old airstrip was closed to the public.