LAWAS: The Kembara Sarawak convoy was flagged off on Sunday (May 28) in conjunction with Sarawak’s 60th anniversary of independence.
The convoy flagged off by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg will see participants touring 12 divisions statewide.
According to Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the convoy is the main event among nine large-scale programmes organised in conjunction with this celebration themed ‘Sarawak Maju Makmur’.
He said the 3,516 kilometre journey which will take 56 days to complete and that he participants will stop at every divisional administrative centre before arriving in Kuching on July 22.
“In the previous years, they could not make a stop at the administrative centre of the Kapit division because there was no road connecting to the district.
“But as a result of development, for the first time ever, the convoy will cross every part of Sarawak,” he said during the flagging off at Taman Awam Lawas here.
At every stop, the Resident’s office of each division will hold a specific programme.
“One of the programmes that will be held in each divisional administrative centre is the 60th Sarawak digital exhibition.
“It is for the people to see what has happened in the state of Sarawak since the beginning of the state achieving independence until today,” he said.
The convoy will be accompanied by a total of 37 members involving 14 vehicles and four motorcycles from the Secretariat team of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS), the Traffic Patrol of the Royal Malaysian Police, the Health Department team, a Road Transport Department (JPJ) team and Mechanical Team of the Public Works Department (PWD).
In addition, there will also be a Division Level Kembara Sarawak convoy led by the respective Residents, involving the participation of approximately 2,295 participants from each division including 640 motorcycles, 266 four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles from government and private agencies as well as 250 private cars and motoring clubs.
