Charity 4WD convoy includes international participants
SIBU: The sixth edition of a four-wheel drive (4WD) charity convoy, established by local non-governmental organisation ( NGO) Hope Place Kuching, includes participants from foreign countries this time.
The ‘Charity Without Borders (CWB) 6.0’ has gathered a record number of 300 participants, who are now at the 18- door longhouse in Batu Keling after departing from Belaga around 4am yesterday. Among them are 4WD enthusiasts from Brunei, Singapore, Austria and Switzerland.
The convoy has also registered 114 4WDs for this edition. Additionally, it also has doctors and nurses ready for any medical emergency and treatment throughout the journey. For this edition, the annual charity programme engages Sibu 4X4 Owners Club and Bintulu 4x4 Skills & Adventure.
Hope Place Kuching president Chong Hai Eng describes the trip as ‘most meaningful’, signifying that there are still many people who really care for the welfare and well-being of those in need.
“This is also the fi rst time that we have managed to attract so many participants from across the state,” she said at the launch on Thursday where Pelawan assemblyman David Wong, Bukit Assek assemblywoman Irene Chang, deputy Sibu District police chief ACP Martin Khoo, Sibu 4X4 Owners Club president Kiing Sie Puo, Bintulu 4x4 Skill & Adventure president Tie Sing Ung and event director Ng Kieh Ho were also present.
Hope Place Kuching is a NGO established in Kuching in 2013, with the objective of providing assistance to the needy folk.
“Last year, we managed to gather about 12 tonnes of goods for the longhouses in Lubok Antu,” said Chong, adding that it was the difficulties in transporting the goods to the remote pockets across Sarawak that eventually led to engaging members of the two 4WD clubs in the convoy.
Meanwhile in his brief remarks, Khoo applauded all the CWB teams for being involved in such a noble programme.
Nevertheless, he advised all drivers to be alert, and to adhere strictly to the traffic rules and regulations – at all times.
Wong, on the other hand, reminded the participants to take video shots along the journey and use them to help promote Sarawak tourism.
Sarawak, according to him, has lots of natural resources and all efforts must be undertaken to ensure that such resources would be utilised for the benefit of the people, including the rural communities.
“We have lots of natural resources, yet there are still people who are living in poverty. That is why more of such missions are encouraged to ensure that everybody could enjoy the fruits of development,” he said.
Chang, in her comments, commended the participants for taking this initiative to help the less-fortunate members of society, and encouraged more to undertake such missions that would cover more areas.