Tawau: Borneo Exploration Expedition Programme 2012 is capable of being the best platform to strengthen friendship and improve regional relations between Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.
The expedition spanning 12,000 kilometres across 16 destinations was able to provide a variety of experiences and challenges to the participants that could be applied after the expedition.
Minister for Information, Communications and Culture, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim, said the expedition was also a starting point of fraternal relations between the two 4-wheel drive clubs of Malaysia and Indonesia.
He said the expedition will cut cross Sabah, Sarawak and two other countries involving 65 participants and 21 four-wheel drive vehicles.
"Among the destination would be Kota Kinabalu, Brunei, Miri, Sibu, Kuching, Pontianak, Pengkalan Bun, Palangkaraya, Banjarmasin, Balikpapan, Samarinda, Tanjung Manis, Tanjung Selor, Melinau and Tawau district," he said.
The text of his speech was presented by the Deputy Secretary General of Communications, Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture, Che Azemi Haron, at the launch of Borneo Exploration Expedition 2012 at the Tawau Municipal Council forecourt.
Meanwhile, the expedition which began its journey on Saturday morning will take about 21 days and is expected to arrive in Tawau on November 30.
In the meantime, he hopes that expedition participants always keep up the good name of the country as well as showing courtesy and hospitality so that a good perception about the country is presented.
Borneo Exploration Expedition 2012 is the first ever event to be held in the state and is jointly organized by Extreme Expedition 4×4 Club Tawau and Warna Motion Pictures.
Also present at the event were the President of the MPT, Datuk Ismail Mayakob, Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Nizam DSP Hj Abu Bakar Titingan, member of the Board of the National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia, Dato ‘Mustapha Ma'arof and the Tawau Consul of the Consulate General of Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Mohamad Saleh.
--Courtesy of New Sabah Times