KUCHING, Nov 19: Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah took part in the 145th Sarawak Regatta, leading the Brunei team to victory on the final day of the popular annual event along Sarawak River.
The friendly race was won by the royal visitor, and the Sarawak team named after Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud was the first runner-up.
In third place was the team led by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan personally.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg also led a team himself, as did Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan leading their own teams respectively.
Earlier, the Brunei ruler also took a tour on the Sarawak River and the newly opened Darul Hana bridge on the river vessel ‘Sayang Sarawak’ together with Taib and Abang Johari.
International dragon boat races were held from Nov 10-12, followed by the Sarawak Regatta, which was held from Nov 17 until today.
The Sarawak Regatta comprised 17 events and featured 26 heats and 18 finals. The highlight of the Sarawak Regatta was the challenge for the ‘Raja Sungai’ (River King) trophy.
The total cash prizes offered for the Sarawak Regatta was RM240,000. The winner of ‘Raja Sungai’ — Landas 11 — bagged home a trophy and cash prize of RM10,000.
In conjunction with the Sarawak Regatta, the Kuching Waterfront Festival 2017 was held from Nov 10 until today during which the whole of Gambier Street and Main Bazaar was closed to traffic.
The RM35 million Darul Hana bridge was officially opened on Nov 12 and opened to the public since yesterday and many people had thronged the bridge to experience it while enjoying the Regatta event. — Dayak Daily
