Endurance challenge in Perhentian maps difficult path for participants

CRYSTAL-CLEAR seas apart from enchanting environment are among the attractions that drew some 2,000 tourists daily to Pulau Perhentian and its fringing islands. The move by the Terengganu government and Tourism Ministry in conserving the island’s bio-diversity and its fringe islands like Redang and Kapas resulted in the encouraging number of tourist arrivals. With only RM70 for a return trip, tourists can board boats from the Kuala Besut jetty to get to Pulau Perhentian Besar or Pulau Perhentian Kecil located some 20km from the Terengganu coast. Apart from the natural attractions, the other tourist draw to the island is the Perhentian Island Challenge (PIC) which is a joint effort by the government and private sector.

PIC is an event staged to draw tourists particularly water sports enthusiasts to Pulau Perhentian. The event began as a team championship in 2004, drawing 103 participants and staged its seventh edition in October. Some 300 contestants from Malaysia and 11 foreign nations like Kenya, Switzerland and Mexico took part in this year’s championship that had two categories - elite and novice. Contestants in the elite category were required to run across the beach and hills for 20km including one kilometre swim from Pulau Perhentian Kecil to Pulau Perhentian Besar. In the novice category, they need to run 13km apart from climbing hundreds of steps to the windmill hill at Pulau Perhentian Besar.

The winner in this year’s elite category is Heidilee Muhammad, 27. Heidilee, a Royal Malaysia Navy personnel and a veteran in the race, said the race this year was more challenging and tougher. “This year it was more challenging as the route was longer, furthermore we had to swim and the foreign competitors were also great,” said the Sabahan. The locals were familiar with Heidilee who is affectionately called ‘Dino’. His team had won the championship for four consecutive years from 2004 to 2007 before PIC was changed into an individual championship in 2008.

When asked on why he came back to the championship without fail, he said: “It is peaceful here, good for vacation and we can forget about problems in the city.” Heidilee who won the challenge in three hours 30 minutes also won the overall PIC champion crown and pocketed RM7,000 in cash. Event director Rob Stott said the objective of making the PIC more challenging this year was achieved when many contestants had to drop out midway through the championship particularly during the swimming part. “Out of 10 women who participated in the elite category, only three continued the race, seven of them dropped out during the swimming event. Ten of the men in the elite category also dropped out during the swim. “It’s the reflection of people’s ability, we did not make any selection and the task was more than they anticipated,” he said.

Stott said PIC’s degree of challenges would be increased from year to year in the effort to draw those who like endurance sports and tough challenges. “For a fact, we know they are those who do not come because they think PIC is too easy for them,” he said. PIC is always a boon for locals as this is the time where they could expect ‘a windfall’. Villager Shafie Zaki, 33, of Kampung Perhentian, said the PIC enabled the locals to earn some extra money before the monsoon season in October until January. “This is the time where the villagers can set up food stalls and provide boats for rent,” he said.
- Bernama.