The Best Ever Baram Regatta

THE Baram Regatta this year is the best ever to be held in the state.

Minister in-charge and Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang said the Regatta, attracting some 60,000 people – twice that of 2008 – was successful in all aspects.

The visit by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei was also the first ever in the history of the Regatta since its inception over 100 years ago.

“His Royal Highness’ comment was very favourable and indeed, we are very thankful to him. During his visit, he was accompanied by two ministers – Finance and Energy – and two permenantsecretaries. This is very important historical event, especially for the people of Baram,” Jabu said in Marudi.

Among the dignitaries gracing several events in the programme were the Head of State, Tun Datuk Patinggi Muhammad Salahuddin and Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Others included Deputy Minister of Tourism Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit, Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Talip Zulpilip and elected representatives, among whom was Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran, Assistant Minister of Agriculture (farmers’ organisation) and the organising chairman.

The programme included speed and remote control boat competitions, Baram Idol and Ratu Regatta Baram, Sape competition, exposition and exhibition, sales of various products and IMalaysia Cultural Night.

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Baram Regatta to be promoted aggressively in future

MARUDI: The state government will promote the historic Baram Regatta aggressively to both local and international tourists as part of a concerted effort to boost the state’s tourism industry.

Assistant Minister for Tourism Datuk Talip Zulpilip said the regatta, which was first held in 1899, deserved to be popularised as, among others, it had proven to be a major ‘unifying force’ for the multi-racial communities in Baram.

Promoting the regatta properly would also do wonders to Marudi in terms of becoming an important centre for water-based sports tourism and business.

“I can assure the people of Baram that the regatta will be aggressively promoted both locally and abroad. But the people must continue to make the event a success and even grander in future,” Talip said at the finale of the regatta here on Sunday.

Also present were the organising chairman Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran and Miri Resident Antonio Kahti Galis.

Talip said he believed one of the best ways to turn the regatta into a huge success would be to introduce a homestay programme as the event was a crowd-puller.

He revealed that foreign tourists loved homestay-type of accommodation, so locals should take advantage of this money-generating opportunity.

“But the people here must continue to appreciate and strengthen unity and harmony here. Without it investors will not come to Marudi. When this happens, other types of development initiative would also be hampered,” he stressed.

Earlier, Sylvester thanked the people, including the state government and sponsors, for making the regatta a success.

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Baram Regatta the ‘Mother of all Regattas’

MARUDI: The 2011 Baram Regatta which ended yesterday achieved another breakthrough when it was called the ‘Mother of all Regattas’ in Sarawak.

The presence of the Sultan and Prime Minister of Brunei His Royal Highness Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to grace the regatta was already a historic moment which undoubtedly left lasting memories in the minds of local dignitaries and the people of Baram.

It consequently further strengthened the long established cordial bilateral relations between Brunei and Malaysia in particular Sarawak, while further promoting both countries to the world community.

Among the local dignitaries and fans of the regatta were Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Muhammad Salahuddin and Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Long Terawan, Mulu successfully retained the ‘Raja Batang Baram’ title for the second consecutive time after winning it in 2008. Second and third placings respectively went to Citra 1 and Jayong 9 Belaga.

Meanwhile, Jayong Belaga emerged as the overall regatta champion to win the ‘Charles Hose Memorial Cup’.

Jayong 9 Belaga through its Unlimited Men B team successfully clinched the Sultan of Brunei’s Challenge Trophy.

Second and third place winners were Citra 1 and Tedung Melanca respectively.

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A truly royal buzz at Baram Regatta 2011

MARUDI: Thousands of people turned up at the Marudi airport yesterday to give Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei a warm welcome to grace Baram Regatta 2011.

The Sultan flew in from Brunei using a Black Hawk helicopter. An accomplished pilot, the Sultan brought the aircraft to a perfect landing to the delight of the welcoming party at 9.15am. His entourage flew in using two other Black Hawks.

On hand to welcome him were Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Datuk Patinggi Muhammad Salahuddin, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Awang Asfia Awang Nassar, Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, and local community leaders.

All of them later headed to Marudi town for a colourful welcome by various ethnic communities from the Baram Basin, led by Baram Regatta organising chairman and Assistant Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran.

The huge crowd jam-packed the streets, and many of them not only hit their digital cameras in overdrive mode but also jostled for the opportunity to shake hands with the Sultan.

Entri later accompanied the Sultan, Taib, Jabu, and Awang Tengah to a floating stage which was manually powered by two longboats filled with people paddling furiously out of the wharf for a parade downriver before ending at the main stage.

They were accompanied by a flotilla of dragon boats and longboats.

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Baram Regatta turns town into sea of colour, festivities

MARUDI: This town exploded into a riot of colours as the rich cultural heritage dating back over a century came to the fore with the Baram Regatta 2011 hitting full steam yesterday.

Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Muhammad Salahuddin and his wife Toh Puan Norkiah were given a rousing, colourful welcome upon their arrival in Marudi town whichwas painted with a riot of colours from the communities turning out in their best traditional costumes.

A total of 100 boats are participating in Baram Regatta 2011, coming from Kuching, Saratok, Brunei, Sibuti and the Baram in this event which dated back over a century at the onset of a landmark peace-making ceremony to end blood-letting tribal rivalries.

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Sape Competition at Baram Regatta

MARUDI: Other communities in Sarawak are into sape music invented by the Orang Ulu.

Telang Usan assemblyman said traditionally the Kenyah used sape music as an accompaniment to their traditional dances.

But world renowned sape player Jerry Kamit of Iban origin and the Ibans and Kelabits have adopted it as their own genre of music.

“This shows that this traditional music is no longer the domain of the Kayan-Kenyah,” Dennis said when officiating at the finals of the Sape Competition at Marudi Town Square on Thursday night. It was held as part of activities of the Baram Regatta.

Among those present were Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Robert Laing; Resident of Miri Division, Antonio Kahti Galis and Baram District Officer Joseph Belayong.

According to Dennis, the Orang Ulu nevertheless should be proud that their brand of music was gaining popularity in the international stage.

He challenged them to produce at least 20 proficient sape players in each of their villages tasked to perform live sape music during major ceremonies.

“It is rather shameful to see beautifully dressed ladies dance to sape music played on CD or DVD as no one can play the sape,” he lamented.

He said although the sape had evolved with the times from a two-stringed to seven-stringed instrument, there must be concerted efforts to preserve it so the culture and tradition of the Orang Ulu would not become extinct

Dennis said the Sape Competition initiated since 2008 was part of efforts to recognise the role of the sape in the culture of the Orang Ulu. The two-stringed instrument was once believed to have mystical power.

“Its music provides the spirit or soul of the dance, the environment in which to express who you are; beauty and grace for the women to attract warriors in the era of headhunting and strength, and dexterity for the men to attract the attention of the women of their dreams,” he said.

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Riot of colour and culture expected at Baram Regatta

MIRI: Marudi will be a riot of colour and culture when the people of the Baram Basin don traditional costumes to showcase their rich cultural heritage in Baram Regatta 2011.

The historic regatta dating back over a century was a peace-making event to mark the end of tribal wars and headhunting.

Organising chairman Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran, who is also Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supplies) and Marudi assemblyman said the Baram Regatta would be an opportunity to showcase the cultural uniqueness of the people.

“I call on the people of Baram – Orang Ulu, Chinese, Iban, Malay and other communities – to come deck out in their traditional costumes on Oct 1-2 as this is the time to showcase our ethnicity and identity,” he said.

The carnival-like atmosphere will descend on Marudi, also known as Claude Town in the colonial days.

The carnival kicks off with the Baram Idol singing competition at Marudi town square on Oct 28; the semi-finals will be held the following night together with the finals of the sape competition.

Miss Baram Beauty Contest preliminary rounds will kick off on Sept 30 while Baram Idol champion would be decided the same night from the seven finalists in the 1Malaysia Cultural Nite programe.

The remote controlled boat competition and trade expo would be held during the day.

On Oct 1 morning, Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Mohamad Salahuddin will officiate at the opening of the 104th edition of the Baram Regatta as paddlers battle for glory in the Baram River.

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Colourful longboats to liven up Baram Regatta

MARUDI: Decorated longboats will add splashes of colour to the Baram River on Oct 1 as part of events for the Baram Regatta.

Robert Laing Anyie, a political secretary to the Chief Minister, said there will be decorated longboats involving the Orang Ulu, Iban, Malay and Chinese communities.

The boats, he said, would carry the regatta torch for the handing over ceremony, or ‘Maten Tebuko Sengaran’ in Kayan, to Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

“After handing over the Tebuko to the Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, the boat parade would move upriver together with the guest of honour on the boat,” he said after a technical committee meeting yesterday.

Longboats which have yet to register, he said, could do so with Baram District Officer Joseph Belayong until Sept 29.

He added that preparations by participants for the regatta have been going smoothly.

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