KOTA KINABALU: Sabah government-linked-corporation (GLC) Angkatan Hebat Sdn Bhd (AHSB) has come forward to support the upcoming Trans-Borneo Land Below the Wind (TBLBW) expedition with three vehicles.
The fleet management services provider will sponsor the Toyota Fortuner to be used for the touring class category of the expedition on Dec 12-19.
AHSB will also provide limited lubricants for the participants and cash sponsorship for the TBLBW event.
AHSB chief executive officer Faez Ainstein Nordin said the sponsorship was their small part to help promote and revive the tourism industry in Sabah.
Therefore, they are providing vehicles at a very special rate in particular for interested participants so they may save some cost while enjoying the tour.
"We hope that all Malaysians, especially those from West Malaysia who have never visited Sabah, will have the chance to see our beautiful state," Faez added.
TBLBW event director Anuar Ghani said Yayasan Sabah, Sabah Parks and the Forestry Department have also supported the event in allowing access to some of the places that are not accessible to the public.
"This year's event is special and meaningful because of the collaboration and cooperation of the various establishments and entities to jointly work and contribute to revive tourism.
"There is common purpose and unity and the desire to show the best of Sabah," Anuar added.
The week-long expedition will be divided into touring class, travelling mainly on the main road or gravelled roads for normal 4x4 vehicles, and hardcore class which traverse on rugged terrains and require modified 4x4 vehicles.
The event is open to 100 participants and limited to 50 vehicles. The registration is on a first-come-first-served basis.
Among others, the event is endorsed by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC); the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Environment Sabah (MTCE); the Sabah Tourism Board; and the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MITA).
TBLBW aims to jumpstart the once thriving Sabah nature tourism which was badly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Participation fees for the TBLBW expedition is RM2,500 for jump-seaters; RM2,100 for public entries; and RM1,750 for students and trainees (young Trans Borneo Explorers in the tourism, automotive and multimedia fields).
The registration form can be downloaded from www.transborneo.net and sent to northborneoexplorer@gmail.com. The deadline is on Nov 30.