Display of colour, tradition and culture at 118th Baram Regatta

MARUDI: It was a sea of colour, culture and traditions here yesterday as thousands of people from all walks of life thronged the town square for the 118th Baram Regatta.

The sunny weather in the morning beckoned over 7,000 people to the banks of Baram River here on the second day of the most awaited regatta that kicked off yesterday.

A total of 64 boats representing 27 teams took part in the paddling events yesterday with Mulu Terawan team sending the biggest team this year with 10 boats.

Present to experience the historic ‘Mother of all Regattas’ was Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and entourage who arrived at the town at 3pm.

Upon arrival, the Head of State and his entourage including Transportation Assistant Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil were welcomed by Baram MP Anyi Ngau, Marudi assemblyman Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala and Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau.

The entourage was then led to Marudi Wharf to watch the Decorated Boat Competition.

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Baram Regatta returns, 10 teams confirm participation for Aug 25-27 event

MARUDI: Ten teams, including those from outside Sarawak, have confirmed their participation in Baram Regatta 2017 here, scheduled to run from Aug 25 to 27.

These groups are expected to bring along over 40 boats for the event, which was last held in 2014.

According to Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, several local residents, including longhouse villagers, are offering their houses for the participants and visitors to stay at.

“This is being compiled by Marudi District Office. We foresee no problem with accommodation during the regatta,” said Dennis, who is also deputy organising chairman in charge of event’s technical committee, recently.

It is said the regatta began 111 years ago to mark the peace treaty between the warring tribes across the Baram River basin.

Thirty events have been proposed for this year’s regatta including the traditional boat race, speedboat, pump boat and remote-controlled (RC) boat races, as well as the new mixed paddling event.

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Second edition of Baram Regatta set for Aug 25-27 this year

MARUDI: The second edition of Baram Regatta, which is scheduled for Aug 25 to 27 this year, is set to bring excitement to locals and participants.

A meeting for members of the main organising committee was held at Marudi District Office (MDC) yesterday, chaired by Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala who represented Assistant Minister for Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil.

Penguang, who is Marudi assemblyman, is the organising chairman while Gerawat is in charge of the event’s cultural performance sub-committee.

Penguang could not attend the meeting due to an official duty in Kuching.

The session yesterday was meant to discuss and study the reports from various sub-committees handling the technical aspects, welcoming preparations for regatta and cultural performances to be staged during the ‘1Malaysia Night’ on Aug 26.

The technical sub-committee was represented by its secretary Marudi District Officer Mackos Sibong, who came on behalf of the sub-committee head, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau.

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Baram Regatta to regain original ‘flavour’

MARUDI: This year’s Baram Regatta will regain its original ‘flavour’ by holding a race solely for Baram folk.

Regatta committee technical chairman and Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said this race involving local boats will be in keeping with the original Baram Regatta more than 100 years ago.

“This is a departure from the previous and last Baram Regatta, where all races were open to any team thus making the

Baram Regatta lose its original ‘flavour’,” he said during a technical committee meeting recently.

He said the Baram Closed race would be solely for Baram folk, while the Baram Open race would be open to all including foreign participants.

“Therefore I urge community leaders and village chiefs in Baram to promote and encourage their longhouses to join the Baram Closed races, which will rekindle the Baram Regatta’s original purpose, that is to promote friendly competition among Baram people,” he said.

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Baram Regatta set to return in August

MARUDI: The Baram Regatta, which was last held in 2014, will tentatively be held on Aug 25-27.

Assistant Minister for Local Government Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil confirmed the return of the historic regatta during his Chinese New Year visits to community leaders and friends here on Sunday.

“We had called for a meeting on this Baram Regatta event last week as promised. We have lined-up the committee for Baram Regatta events, which will be successfully held,” he said.

He also highlighted several development projects here.

“We have the budget for implementing the waterfront at a cost of RM23 million, RM7 million for the retaining wall and another RM3 million for the renovation of Fort Hose, and these will be implemented within a few years or very soon,” he said.

He said another RM11 million has been budgeted for a mini-estate just behind the mini stadium here.

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Baram Regatta time to celebrate rich cultural heritage

MIRI: The upcoming Baram Regatta on August 22-23 this year will be a cultural fest depicting the end of the head-hunting rivalry in the Baram basin over a century ago.

As such, Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supply) and main committee organising chairman Datuk Sylvester Entri said he looked forward to Marudi Town coming alive with the convergence of all the indigenous tribes to this celebration of peace, culture and water sports prowess.

“We want to paint Marudi red with our rich cultural heritage with costumes, decorations and activities,” said Entri after a main committee meeting held at Marudi District Council recently.

He expressed happiness at the progress report from the respective sub-committees, which gave the organising committee confidence that this triennial event would be a big crowd puller and tourist attraction.

Among the new features in the regatta would be the ‘Pump Boat’ race, which proved to be a hit in smaller regattas in Long Lama last year.

Regatta sub-committee chairman and Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said over 80 such boats were ready to participate in the event, an indication of the popularity of the race and the suitable river condition

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10,000 expected at Baram Regatta

MIRI: More than 10,000 people are expected to throng Marudi town during the Baram Regatta from Aug 22 to 23 this year.

Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said this is because the Miri-Marudi road had been upgraded, thus enabling more people to come to the regatta.

The road was upgraded by the Royal Army Engineers Regiment through the ‘Jiwa Murni’ programme.

“We are glad that the construction of the road has made it a lot easier for the people to travel to Marudi and vice-versa,” he said.

When asked if the delay in the construction of the bridge at Sungai Arang to replace the ferry there would affect the number of people visiting the regatta, Ngau said it would not pose a problem.

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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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Baram Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Night - Festivals of unity encouraged

MARUDI: The state government will continue to support the holding of festivals like the Baram Regatta and the Borneo Sape Festival as these events are capable of bringing people closer together, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinngi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.

Speaking at the Baram Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Night yesterday, Jabu said because these festivals involved Malaysians from all races and religion, they had become a vital tool for uniting the country’s multi-racial society.

Jabu said while the government would continue to host certain events on its own it would encourage the private sector to take it upon themselves to organise festivals and celebrations, in line with the government’s aspiration of strengthening unity and fostering understanding among people.

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World’s biggest and longest ‘sape’ at the the Baram International Regatta

MARUDI: A thirty-foot-long sape at the town square has become a centre of attraction for local and visitors alike in the run-up to the Baram International Regatta.

The sape is a reminder that the Borneo Sape Festival will be held here on Aug 16, one of side activities of the Baram International Regatta from Aug 15 to 17. Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is expected to open the (Borneo Sape) festival on Aug 16.

“We are trying to enter this sape as the biggest replica in Malaysia Book of Records. And, we are keeping our fingers cross hoping that the officials would verify the claim,” the festival organising chairman who is also Telang Usan assemblyman Lihan Jok said yesterday.

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Baram Regatta 2008 - Sape goes global

MIRI: The Baram Regatta 2008 will take on an international flavour for the first time in its century-old history.

The event will feature sape players from England, Kalimantan in Indonesia, Brunei and local Chinese and Malays who have become experts in playing this Orang Ulu guitar-like musical instrument.

The Baram Regatta, as the name implies, will be held along the mighty Baram River in the interior town of Marudi, 200km inland from Miri, on Aug 16 and 17.

This historical event marks a peace accord reached by warring Orang Ulu tribes in 1899 that ended the ancient practice of head hunting.

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