By NIK NAIZI HUSIN

THE Banjaran Titiwangsa hilly crag from Cameron Highlands that narrows down to Kuala Medang was explored recently in the Taman Negara Eco-Challenge.

Spurred by the theme Trans-Titiwangsa, 56 participants from 14 teams and 20 others, including four women representing local and foreign media, found that their skills were put to the test in what was deemed the toughest race of the eco-challenge since its inception.

The event, organised by the Pahang Tourism Action Council (MTPN) and Temerloh Outdoor Sport Management and Service, was supported by Pahang Tourism Malaysia, state tourism agency Bukit Fraser Development Corpo­ration, Kuantan Municipal Council, Lipis District Council and Cameron Highlands District Council.

The challenge, an effort to promote Taman Negara’s popular flora and fauna in Pahang’s forestry areas, was in its third year.

In previous years, the route for the challenge was from Sungai Relau in Lipis to Kuala Tahan in Jerantut. But this year, it was a new route all together.

Participants took off from Cameron Highland’s popular tourist spot, Tanah Rata, and ended their adventure in Kuala Medang, a place popular for its salak fruit and home stay programmes.

MTPN general manager Idros Yahya said, by changing the route, the participants, especially the returning ones, were exposed to new challenges.

Idros said that Pahang’s flora and fauna varied from one area to the other, offering participants the chance to discover other species dotting the landscape.

“The participants had to pass through Boh Tea plantations and Robinson waterfalls in Cameron Highlands, wildlife jenut (salt licks) in Kenderong, orang asli settlements in Kampong Ranau, PKK Menson, Kampong Relong, Lemoi and Pos Betau before taking a bamboo-raft ride on Sungai Jelai to the Kuala Medang jetty.

“From the jetty, they ran the last 14km of the challenge to Kuala Medang village,” Idros said.

He said the idea of the challenge was mooted by Pahang Regent Tengku Mahkota Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who wanted to promote the natural beauty of Pahang’s forests and its rivers.

Tengku Abdullah said that Pahang had much more to offer in terms of flora and fauna which were yet to be discovered.

He said that events such as the eco-challenge were an eye-opener for participants on Pahang’s natural heritage.

“Apart from testing their fitness mentally and physically, participants can appreciate what Pahang has to offer and spread the news on the treasures of this land,” he said.

Tengku Abdullah flagged off the participants at the starting point and later met them at the Boh Tea Plantation in Habu, Cameron Highlands.

State Tourism, Arts and Women Development Committee chairman Datuk Shafik Fauzan Sharif said the eco-challenge was a means of marketing the state’s products.

It covered a 170km route on land, by raft and tarred road.

Team Salomon Sunnto comprising Mohd Puzi Dolah, Yusop Tungkop, Guianus Salagan and Heidilee Mohd triumphed by completing the race in 18 hours 58 minutes.

Army boys Jusfery Gani, Murun Majana, Jasmi Arael and Paul Lim Su Siang from Sungai Udang, Malacca, were the first runners-up clocking 19 hours and 21 minutes while the second runners-up placing went to a police commando team from Perak known as Vat 69A comprising Mohd Tarmizi Hashim, Sahrum Nawi, Helmi Mokhtar and Shamsudin Hassan.

The champion team received a trophy, cash prize of RM10,000 and Suunto vector sports watches while the first runners-up received a trophy, RM7,000 cash prize and Deuter Lite 600” bags.

The second runners-up received a trophy, RM5,000 cash and Coleman Peak tents.

Shafik Fauzan presented the prizes.

Source from The Star Online