By Geryl Ogilvy
KUCHING, March 14: Twenty riders from the peninsula, Germany, Belgium and Taiwan have embarked on a 10-day tour to discover the rich culture and beautiful landscape of Borneo.
Led by FS Adventures, a Malaysian motorcycle tour company, the big bikers will get to experience Sabah and Sarawak first hand as they ride along the Pan Borneo Highway from Kuching all the way to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Local tour operator Pin Sing Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd will provide the ground handling and logistic support of the rally that covers a distance of nearly 3,000km, including some offroad riding sectors.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, an avid biker himself, flagged off the participants at the Kuching Waterfront here today.
“I hope you have a good rally across Borneo and having a good time throughout your time here,” Abang Johari said at the flag-off ceremony.
The tour is led by BMW GS Trophy Marshall and rider, Faizal Sukree, who is also a certified BMW Motorrad International Tourguide and Instructor.
Pin Sing Travel and Tours chief executive officer Sia Sung Leong was present.
The ‘Borneo Ride 2019’ participants will travel 2,862km between March 14 and 23, where they will get to experience the diverse culture and nature of Sabah and Sarawak while sampling local delicacies.
In the Sarawak-leg of the tour, the riders will travel from Kuching to Lawas, making stops in Sibu, Miri, as well as passing Brunei. The group will get to experience an off-road and gravel road challenge covering 142km (Lawas-Merarap-Lawas route) and spending time at the Merarap Hot Springs Lodge.
During the Sabah-leg, the participants will travel up north, covering Keningau, Tawau, Sandakan and passing through Kinabalu park, before heading to Kudat and Kota Kinabalu.
“Sarawak is in the midst of upgrading its Pan Borneo Highway, as well as the coastal highway, that will provide beautiful scenery. I hope the riders will have a pleasant journey,” said Abang Johari, while expressing hope for tourism potential of biking activities across the state.
“Last week, I was in Lawas, which is quite a remote area in northern Sarawak. I was provided with an electric scooter to ride around the area, accompanied by some 150 riders. I hope you all have a good stay in Merarap,” he continued.
The chief minister, with vast experience of riding motorcycles since his teenage years, reminded riders that biking needs discipline.
A combination of skills and experience is also important to partake in such cross country riding activities, he added. — DayakDaily
