Sarawak Regatta... Special guest, Great Grandson Second White Rajah

Jason Brooke, the 23-year-old great grandson of Sarawak's second White rajah, Charles Brooke who ruled from 1868 to 1917, has been invited as a special guest to this year's three-day regatta beginning on Friday. Cicit kepada Charles Brooke ini akan dapat menyaksikan acara lumba perahu yang bertujuan untuk mendamaikan puak yang bersengketa di Sarawak, yang diperkenalkan dan dianjur oleh moyangnya 29 Februari, 1879.
Sarawak Regatta 2008 will coincide with the Kuching Festival and 45th anniversary of

Sarawak forming Malaysia. The theme is ‘The Race For Peace’. It would be around Aug 1 to 3 instead of the first week of September along Kuching Waterfront.

The regatta will be promoted to neighbouring countries like Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat and Brunei. There would be side events like trade fair, exhibitions and stage shows to attract more people to the regatta and make it a renowned river event.

The launch of the regatta would be on Aug 2 at 10am.

The closing ceremony would be on Aug 3 at 4.30pm.

Last year more than 6,000 people including foreigners from 388 participating teams took part in the regatta.

To date, the organiser had received sponsorship amounting to RM580,000 – RM300,000 from the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, RM70,000 from the Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism Sarawak, Shell Berhad donated RM100,000, Petronas Malaysia Berhad RM50,000, Ta Ann Holdings Berhad RM30,000 and Global Upline Sdn Bhd RM30,000. Obviously this year has bigger cash prizes.

Cahya Mata Sarawak Sdn Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Berhad, Zecon Resources and Murphy Sarawak Oil had confirmed sponsoring the event but yet to disclose the amount.

Three new categories, namely 20 paddlers for government and corporate agencies (men), 20 paddlers inter-state and 20 paddlers inter-varsity would be added to the existing 12 categories.

The main category would be the 30 paddlers for men who will be challenging for the TYT Yang Di-Pertua Negeri challenge trophy and Raja Sungai or King of River title.

Registration for the regatta opens now till July 25 at http://www.sarawakregatta.com or visit Sarawak Rivers Board at Level 2 of Electra House.

Posted in: Events,Festival,Kuching