BETONG, Sept 2: Mountain bike enthusiasts and athletes from around the Borneo Island will be congregating at Rumah (Rh) Francis Nyanggau in Penom here for the second Ulu Paku Mountain Bike Challenge 2019.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is from the longhouse, chaired a meeting on the event here yesterday, said the event will be held from Oct 3 to 5.
He said the event is expecting participation not only from Sarawak but also from Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan.
The first one held last year, he said, had benefited the local people in terms of economic spinoff through the sale of food products and agricultural produce.
“We hope to do the same again this year besides attracting more visitors to Paku area.
“This year we have lined up a number of interesting programmes including more cultural activities such as the ‘Gendang Rayah’ (beating of the traditional skin drums), the ‘Betaboh’, the Ngajat and the blow pipe competition.
“We also want to demonstrate the traditional Iban iron smithing, making of the ‘Baju Burie’ (traditional Iban vest adorned with shells) and others,” he said.
Uggah said there will be a stage show, food fair, cooking events and visits to other longhouses nearby.
“We are anticipating cyclists from as far as Kalimantan, Brunei and Sabah.
“Some of them may want to bring their families, so we are preparing homestay facilities at my longhouse too,” he said
Uggah who is also Bukit Saban assemblyman as well as Minister of Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development, and who has recently been appointed Second Finance Minister said the prize-presenting ceremony will be held in the evening of the last day.
He said there will also be a lucky draw where the main prize is a motorcyle. Other prizes include farming tools.
A Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr Richard Rapu and longhouse chief Tr Francis Nyanggau were among those present at the meeting. — DayakDaily
