KUALA TERENGGANU: The Merdeka spirit is burning brightly in septuagenarian Mansor Omar, who is on a quest to paddle around the peninsula in just two months.
Mansor, who turned 70 on Jan 14, is attempting to become the first Malaysian to kayak solo from Kelantan to Perlis – a distance of over 1,608km, through 11 stages – in 60 days (to reflect the 60th Merdeka anniversary)
The father of 12 and grand-father of another 12, who began his journey on July 1, is enduring exhaustion and temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius to etch his name in the Malaysia Book of Records – and honour the country on its milestone birthday.
Mansor is traveling at an average of 6km per hour, about 5km offshore for his feat (which will actually cover nearly 2,000km and take over 71 days, when travel over land is factored in).
For each leg between coastal towns, Mansor paddles for seven hours to average 35km before taking short breaks to rest and replenish himself, and proceed with his journey.
“This is where I gulp some energy drinks like 100 Plus and Milo, and munch some banana and chocolate bars,” said Mansor, a retired Veterinary Department medical assistant.
His journey began from the Malaysian-Thai border of Pengkalan Kubur in Kelantan on July 1, and he is expected to complete his feat at the Kuala Perlis jetty on Sept 9.
“I am doing this on my own initiative, following the call by the Prime Minister for Malaysians to strive to move forward by achieving something worthwhile to be proud about.
“Also, I want to demonstrate that age is no barrier to possess endurance and determination, as long as you remain healthy and fit,” said Mansor, in reference to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s launch of ‘Ekspedisi Ekspresi Negaraku’ last March 18.
Mansor arrived from Pantai Rhu Tapai in Setiu for a stopover at Batu Burok in Kuala Terengganu, en route to Pahang recently.
He was greeted by Terengganu state assembly speaker Datuk Mohd Zubir Embong and state Sports Council director Ibni Amin Busu.
Apart from the scorching heat, Mansor said he had to endure strong currents, waves and winds in his quest.
“It is challenging at times, but I am determined to complete my mission as scheduled, to prove that Malaysians, more so a Terengganu-born, ‘boleh’ (can do it),” said Mansor, who hails from Teluk Kalung in Kemaman.
He added that his most challenging route will be the Johor Straits, when he will have to struggle not to stray into Singapore waters.
He is armed with a special wrist watch that monitors his health and provides navigation and weather information as he paddles in his RM4,000 kayak.
Despite his age, Mansor is a fit and trim 64kg figure who has twice climbed Southeast Asia’s tallest mount, Mount Kinabalu, and has been a diver and qualified water sport coach for the last 36 years.
Mansor, whose voyage is expected to cost RM140,000, is being accompanied by a supply boat ferrying, among others, Terengganu Canoe Association president Dzulkifli Abas and Terengganu Recreation Movement president Wan Adnan Wan Ismail.
The boat, which is equipped with a drone to film Mansor’s journey, is also carrying his daughter, Juariah Habsya, 30, who is the event manager, and sons Muhd Hazimi, 32, and Muhd Alif, 31.