412 vehicles taking part in Borneo Safari
KOTA KINABALU: Recordhigh participation of the Borneo Safari International Off-Road Challenge contributes to the Sabah domestic tourism vision.
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun said the expedition attracted 1,128 participants with 412 fourwheel drives (4WDs), despite a decrease in sponsorship this year.
“I am very satisfied with the success of Borneo Safari since its inauguration until now, which is not only one of the activities or safaris that is well known in this region but we can see that the participation had grown each year.
“I am sure the organizers are able to promote it well and it also helps the Sabah Tourism Board to promote this state to the outsiders. Participation comes from the people in Malaysia and is also suitable with the Sabah Tourism Board’s desire to stress on domestic tourism next year.
“We hope with the Borneo Safari, more or less, that goal will be achieved. This not only means bringing participants into Sabah but also allow them to enjoy the valuable experience in rural Sabah, get to know Sabah even better and enjoy the unrivaled natural beauty in the region,” he added.
The participants will journey through the seldom ventured side of Papar, introducing them to the often unknown beautiful natural environment along the Crocker Range, a mountain range with an average height of 1,800 metres that separates east coast and west coast Sabah.
“Many probably are not aware, including the people of Sabah, that the area is actually filled with captivating natural beauty,” said Masidi.
“We always believe the most beautiful part of Sabah is probably in places like Ranau or Kota Belud. But I tell you the interior of Papar is equally mesmerizing,” he emphasized.
According to Sabah Four Wheel Drive Association president Faez Nordin, at less than 50, the expedition this year also received the highest number of female participation.
He said the highest number of participant is from Brunei (over 100), and followed by Indonesia (22), and China (18).
Italians also made its first appearance in the 27th Borneo Safari, which includes foreign participants from Indonesia, Thailand, Japan and France.
The expedition, promoting 4X4 motorsports and eco-tourism, has been held annually since 1991, covering approximately 1,000km of extreme driving conditions through the most challenging terrains in Sabah.
This competitive expedition is designed to unleash the spirit of adventure, teamwork and puts the true skill of four-wheel driving to test.