Borneo Raft Safari League 2026 to take Sarawak’s bamboo raft racing to new heights

Abdul Karim (third left) with other distinguished guests posed in a photo with the traditional bamboo raft props after the press conference of Borneo Raft Safari League 2026 in Petra Jaya on July 14, 2026.

By Dayangku Hidayatul

KUCHING, July 14: From a traditional river race to a premier eco-adventure tourism product, the Borneo Raft Safari League 2026 is set to take bamboo raft racing in Sarawak to the next level, with hundreds of participants expected to take part across four sanctioned events this year.

Minister for Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the platform was established to bring together various raft safari events across Sarawak under one coordinated league.

“These races are far more than sporting events. They celebrate our rivers, preserve our cultural heritage, strengthen community bonds and create meaningful economic opportunities for rural communities.

“To further elevate these events and position them as a premier eco-tourism product, the Borneo Raft Safari platform was established,” he said during the Borneo Raft Safari League 2026 press conference here today.

The initiative aims to professionalise bamboo raft racing throughout the State by introducing higher standards in safety, event management, and participation, while promoting Sarawak’s rivers, culture and rural communities.

He said the initiative would ensure all events follow common standards, including raft specifications, insurance coverage, registration systems, and safety measures.

The Borneo Raft Safari League 2026 will feature four sanctioned events, namely the Mulu Eco Challenge, Selangau Raft Safari, Mukah Raft Safari, and Padawan Raft Safari.

The league began with the Mulu Eco Challenge on March 29, which attracted 80 participants from Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam.

The next event, Selangau Raft Safari, scheduled for July 26 at Rumah Empera, Sungai Wong Atas, Selangau, has recorded its highest participation since the event began, with 172 participants from 43 teams.

Following Selangau, the league will continue with Mukah Raft Safari on Aug 22 before concluding with the Padawan Raft Safari on Oct 4.

Abdul Karim said the league system will award points to teams throughout the season, with the highest-scoring team crowned the Borneo Raft Safari League champion, while encouraging participants to explore different destinations and boost local tourism activities.

Borneo Raft Safari race director Awang Saifeludin Awangku Karim said the four events offer a combined cash prize of RM100,000, with each location offering prizes ranging from RM10,000 to RM25,000.

He added that organisers of other raft safari events in Sarawak are welcome to join the league, subject to meeting the required standards.

Awang Saifeludin, who is also Grit Event Management chief executive officer (CEO), highlighted that the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) and the Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) would be involved in safety preparations, including crocodile flushing before the events. — DayakDaily