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2009 BORNEO SAFARI

UPDATES FROM THE SCOUTS!!!

by Fred Leong

9.8.2009.

KOTA KINABALU: Identifying and searching for suitable tracks inside the pristine Deramakot Forest Reserve was indeed a daunting and arduous task faced by the 2009 International Borneo Safari 4x4 challenge recce team.

Shantung Lee and Anthony Wong with their recce team members posing outside the Deramakot Forest Reserve. 

This alone promises tough challenges ahead for participants in this year’s 19^th Borneo Safari that is to expect the unexpected in the 7-day hardcore, 4-days of extreme off-roading awaits inside the Deramakot.

The recce team led by Lee Yun Sang or Shantung Lee and Expedition Leader Anthony Wong (Orang Utan) upon their return exhausted said that, they expect this year’s route will be very much tougher compared to 2006 (first time inside the Deramakot).

They said the 15km former timber track inside the fully canopy-covered Forest Reserve had been long abandoned, very thick undergrowth and foliage, making tracking even more difficult, needless to say having to drive through.

To make things even tougher was that there were few deep washed out ruts, landslides, totally broken down bridges and deep mud pools, which the participants can expect, where men and machines would be truly tested.

Mud pool like this awaits the participants, which forced the team members to go on foot instead.

Talking about the flora and fauna inside the Deramakot, Lee added, participants would be able to enjoy the government’s efforts in conservation and well protected Forest Reserve and of course its pristine wildlife habitat.

In the committee’s last meeting over the weekend, Kinabalu Four Wheel Drive Club (KFWDC) President Jr. James Wong said, though the recce team had more or less identified the route, they are expected to make a final recce in early October to make sure that the links are established to enable the convoy to avoid being stranded.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED….This is the sort of condition, deep mud pool that can easily bog down a vehicle like this one owned by KFWDC Deputy President Liew Vui Kiong’s Land Rover during the recce.

“We expect the convoy to tackle the 15km extreme hardcore track inside the Deramakot for at least four days, due to the arduous and treacherous conditions,” he said.

“Participants must take note that there will be no specific campsites when inside the Deramakot as there is no open spaces to set up camps, meaning the convoy will stop as night falls and set camps along the tracks.”

Shantung Lee (centre) and his team members can still smile despite the hours of tracking during their 4-day recce inside the Deramakot.

I want to warn every participants and vehicle owners that all convoy vehicles must be in tip top condition, equipped with good working winches, recovery tools, proper off-road tyres, snorkels and equally good all round working conditions.

Hiew Min Kiyun has been appointed as the scrutinizing chairman who would be assisted by few other experienced members to carry out strict checks and scrutinizing process before allowing vehicles to be in the convoy.

Thick foliage and over grown undergrowth makes its very difficult for the recce team to establish the suitable links on the long abandoned track.

The first scrutinizing at Hi-Tech Electronic Centre, along Jalan Tuaran (Mile 8) will be conducted on Oct 10-11 from 10am to 5pm, and the second at the same venue from Oct 17-18.

While the final process (priority for foreign participants’ vehicles) would be on Oct 23-24 prior to the event proper flag-off on Oct 25 at the Sabah Tourism Board Office along Jalan Gaya.

He pointed out, after the 4-day “punishment” inside the Deramakot, the convoy would head straight to Sandakan, where several more special stages would be held during the 3-day camping.

MANUAL REPAIRS…Deep washed out ruts and landslides
need to be tackle by man power inorder to cross.

The closing ceremony would be held in Sandakan this year, a change from previous events where the closing ceremonies were held in Kota Kinabalu.

Todate, KFWDC has received tremendous inquiries and confirmations from participants from Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, Brunei, Thailand, Philippines, New Zealand, Holland, Australia, Japan and Indonesia after they decided to allow the event to be an open competition.

Open competition means, competitors are now allowed to use their highly modified machines fitted with Volvo axles (drop axles), which had been banned in past Borneo Safaris.

All vehicles taking part in the convoy must have valid insurance and road taxes before they are allowed to be registered.

Meanwhile, James wish to thank the Tourism, Culture and Environment, STB, Tourism Malaysia and all sponsors for their continuous supports to the event, which placed in the STB and MTB calendar of events.