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18^TH BORNEO SAFARI CLOSE.

by FRED LEONG

3rd November, 2008 

KOTA KINABALU: The just ended 18^th International Borneo Safari 4x4 Challenge can act as one of the government’s arms to enhance awareness to the people, especially foreign visitors on its efforts in protecting, promoting and in forest conservation.

Masidi (2^nd from left) shaking hand with champion Chung Horng Ru/Minion Kotidis, while James, sponsors in Lim Tai Yin and Siow Seong and Hiew Min Kiyun look on.

This was to ensure that Sabah’s future generation will continue to enjoy all what Sabah has to offer when it comes to its unique nature and protected rainforest, which must be preserved at all cost.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun said, the government’s tireless efforts in forest conservation have been on going ever since, and this will not stop until generations to come for the people to share its pristine forestation.

Masidi said this in his speech at the close of the weeklong Borneo Safari at the Kampung Nelayan Seafood Restaurant in Bukit Padang on Sunday night, where he also gave away the prizes to all the winners.

KINAWAY TEAM…Wong Chi Ping on the wheel of the Toyota land Two in sprint event.

Touching on the extreme the annual off-road event, which entered its 18^th edition this year, the minister added, Kinabalu Four Wheel Drive Club (KFWDC) members and foreign participants could assist the government in making Sabah as the best eco-tourism destination in the world.

He was happy to note that this year’s event has attracted many foreign international media (print and electronic) including several travel writers, whom he described as the best medium to “sell” Sabah as an adventure tourism heaven and at the sametime, propel KFWDC’s plan to boost more foreign participants next year.

Several international foreign journalists though as first timers to cover the event, have already shown interest to highlight the Borneo Safari while trying to lure some foreign participation in the coming event, which they described, could be escalated to a world class off-road event.

      ISUZU DURA-MILES MAN’S AWARD WINNER…James Wong (right) receiving the award from Isuzu Malaysia CEO Kyoya Kondo.

KFWDC president James Wong, who was media-picked as the winner of the newly introduced Isuzu Dura-Miles Man’s Award (sponsored by Isuzu Malaysia) thanked the Ministry, Sabah Tourism Board, Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board, generous sponsors and members in making the event a real success.

In his earlier address, James also thanked all the foreign media who have joined in the enduring hardcore event for 7 days inside Sabah’s wilderness, and hope that their final products would enhance the status of the Borneo Safari into a well known event among 4x4 enthusiasts around the globe.

JUNGLE MAN AWARD…Abu with his trophy and prizes posing with Tengku Datuk Adlin.

A total of 110 four wheel drives with more than 270 participants rolled off last week (Sunday Oct 26)       that ended last Sunday after traversing along the lower ridges of the Crocker Range in the Lower Interior Division, where participants had to endure extreme off-road condition on long abandoned tracks, with massive landslides and broken down bridges.

However, the spirit of camaraderie and good overall team work among all the participants, obstacles that looked impassable were made passable especially during bridge building, clearing of logs, leveling of uneven ruts/potholes using manpower.

A total of 21 Special Stages were conducted, where defending champion from Papar Chung Horng Ru and co-driver Minion Kotidis defended their titles against all odds to finish all the SS with their accumulated scores of 710 points, far ahead of their nearest rivals.
 

Top Japanese team with their prize

The champions, driving in their souped –up 5L Suzuki took home sponsored prizes worth RM26,000 including RM5,000 cash.

In second place with 598 points was the Kinaway team of ex-champions in Wong Chi Ping and Lo Fui Min, followed by veteran hardcore competitors in Liew Siak Kiong and David Tham, who scored 596 points to claim the third prize.

In the international category, regular Japanese teams dominated all the top three placing, with Tosyuki Takahashi and Toshimi Moto emerged as the champion, Haruhiko Yoshida and Kenichi Ohnishi in second and Masato Miura and Tomohiho Oitate in third.

All the five special awards winners also received their prizes from the STB Chairman Tengku Datuk Zainal Adilin during the function.

The winners are as follows:

The Best Team Spirit Award: The Scout team, led by Le Yun Sang.

The Jungle man Award : Mohd Raffee @ Abu.

Environment Award: Robin Dale Mendoza, a Philippine-based international journalist.

Foul Up of the Year Award: Wong Kok Phin.

Vehicle of the Year Award: Chang Ket Kiun.

Isuzu Dura-Miles Man’s Award: James Wong.

Ends.

THE BORNEO SAFARI 2008 pre event stories

23 Sept - Borneo Safari secures Aussie product sponsors. More here

James Wong, President of KFWDC reiterates important rules. More here

23 Sept - Kinaway, Idemitsu and Turbo Tech sponsorship for Borneo Safari. More here

Borneo Safari Event Information and Contact for all inquiries. Click this link

Tuf Deck Prizes for the Borneo Safari 2008