Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, Salam Sejahtera and Good Morning, Ladies and gentlemen.
I am pleased to welcome all to the Santubong Hiking Challenge 2023, held today, 20 August 2023, at the Santubong National Park. Welcome to the Santubong Hiking Challenge 2023, taking place today at the magnificent Santubong National Park (SANP).
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Guest of Honour, Yang Berhormat Datuk Dr Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Junaidi, ADUN N.4 Pantai Damai, Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication (Utility) for graciously dedicating his time and unwavering support to be here with us today.
Just to provide some background, this marks the second occasion of an event taking place at Santubong National Park. The initial gathering occurred on September 18, 2022, and due to its highly positive reception, we are delighted to host it once more.
A little bit on Santubong National Park (SANP). Santubong National Park is a great place for a day visit. Santubong is located on the Damai Peninsula, 35km north of Kuching. Seen from sea level, it’s irregular rainforest-covered peaks rise steeply to 810m, forming a catchment for a variety of wildlife. Gunung Santubong provides a spectacular backdrop to hotel resorts, local fishing villages, and the Sarawak Cultural Village. The main popular activities here are hiking to Santubong Summit and swimming at the Waterfall. Its striking peak is visible from Kuching on most days. During your visit, make sure you ask a local about the legend of the Santubong princess.
Other than that, there is an annual major event that is held at Santubong area since 1998 until today. Rainforest World Music Festival is a unique music festival that brings together renowned world musicians from all continents and indigenous musicians from the interiors of the mythical island of Borneo, in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Its formula of three afternoons of interactive and educational workshops, ethno-musical lectures, jamming sessions and mini concerts, followed by evening performances on the main stage has proven to be a hit with the audience, who come from near and far
With the presence of nature tourist attractions and festival celebration, hospitality services are also provided for visitors who wish to have a leisure staycation at Santubong area. For example, Damai Puri Resort, Damai Beach Resort, Permai Rainforest Resort, The Culvert, Cove 55 and many more homestays established there.
With all these resources, it makes Santubong a great place for hiking and trail running. Hence, this event will provide great opportunity to introduce the beauty of our Sarawak rainforest to the world.
There are 105 individuals registered for the ongoing challenge, with participation comprising 116 Malaysians and 9 individuals from abroad, hailing from countries including France, Ireland, Singapore, Vietnam, Britain, Nigeria, Philippines, and Indonesia. Among the participants, there are 50 females and 75 males.
We hope events such as this will continue to inspire people of all ages to appreciate the beauty of our nature and the diversity of the wildlife in our region. It is crucial to preserve our natural heritage for future generations. Sarawak is blessed with abundant natural resources, and we are responsible for protecting and conserving them for our communities, economy, and planet’s benefit.
The challenging terrain and varying elevations of a national park’s hiking trails provide an excellent opportunity for participants to enhance their cardiovascular fitness, build strength, and improve endurance.
Immersing oneself in the natural beauty of a national park can have a positive impact on mental health. Hiking challenges allow individuals to disconnect from the stresses of daily life, reduce anxiety, and promote relaxation.
The benefits of having a hiking challenge in a national park encompass physical health, mental well-being, personal growth, community building, educational opportunities, and environmental stewardship.
Before I conclude my welcoming speech, I must in all fairness, put on record our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the event organiser, sponsors, participants & volunteers who have made this program successful.
I wish all the participants the best of luck in today’s hiking challenge. Thank you, and let’s have a wonderful day at the Santubong Hiking Challenge 2023. Wassalam.