Sarawak’s first off-road driving academy opens in Singai

BAU, May 12 — Sarawak’s first off-road driver training facility has opened in Singai, near here, with the clear goal of upgrading safety awareness and driving skill among drivers of 4X4s throughout the state.

Sarawak Deputy Minister of Transport II Datuk Henry Harry Jinep welcomed the initiative to improve safety and reduce accidents when launching Sarawak 4X4 Training Academy (Sar4Trac) at Kampung Barieng yesterday.

Sar4Trac is a wholly Sarawakian venture by Kuching-based 4X4 Quest Sdn Bhd in cooperation with the local communities of Kampung Barieng and Kampung Segong, SIngai.

The occasion also marked a step forward in regional cooperation with the attendance of senior 4X4 personalities from Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, as well as peninsular Malaysia and Sabah. While here for the opening ceremony, the visitors discussed proposals to raise national standards and awareness of the need for professional 4X4 training.

“This is a timely development because driving a motor vehicle is an activity that is best learned through proper training, and not by trial and error,” said Jinep, who is also the Tasik Biru assemblyman.

“Sarawak still has many remote areas where workers and rural residents need four-wheel-drive vehicles to get from point A to B, in the conduct of their daily business.

“We also have many city dwellers who buy 4X4 pickups which they use to explore the natural attractions in remote places, often travelling over challenging terrain,” said Jinep, who is no stranger to off-road vehicles during frequent visits to his constituents.

“In the past, our locals relied on luck until they gain enough experience ... safety remains a major concern and too often, people pay a high price to learn hard lessons.

“Training with experienced and certified instructors to get the basics right in the first place is the better way to acquire these essential living skills,” he said.

The directors of 4X4 Quest, Paul Si Poh Lim, 60, and Chai Yew Foo, 50, have a combined total of over 60 years’ experience in four-wheel-drive activities at home and abroad, in addition to being certified as professional 4X4 instructors by the United Kingdom’s Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), and as trainers by Malaysia’s Human Resource Development Corporation (HRDC).

Sar4Trac’s facilities include a dedicated lecture hall with adjoining obstacle course which enable trainees to learn basic theory and technical subjects alongside hands-on, practical sessions that improve retention. A more extensive track that simulates real-world off-road driving conditions is located nearby.

“We’ve conducted similar training courses since 2014, usually upon request from clients and at ad hoc locations throughout the state, including Sri Aman, Sibu and Miri,” said Si.

“What’s different now, with Sar4Trac, is we have the formal credentials and also the permanent facilities to offer courses at any time throughout the year, without the need for time-consuming and costly site surveys and preparation each time.”

“I’ve been blessed to have had many opportunities over the past three decades, because of my previous work as a journalist, to experience famous events such as the Camel Trophy in Sabah 1993, numerous Borneo Safari since 1992, the Rainforest Challenge in the peninsula, the Petronas Trans Sahara in 2004, and many more such events ... I feel it is time to share that experience and the many lessons learned with other like-minded 4X4 enthusiasts, especially the younger ones,” said Si.

“We are fortunate to have partners in the JKKKs (village development and security committees) who share our vision, both to upgrade the skills of local youth and as a beneficial economic activity,” he added.

Sar4Trac offers professional courses, with emphasis on safety, for full-time drivers employed by government departments, government-linked corporations and private companies whose business activities require them to drive off-the-road.

“From our discussions with clients’ management and drivers, as well as health and safety professionals, it is clear that employers are most concerned about safety since a single mishap can lead to serious losses in terms of time and money, in addition to personal injury or worse,” said Chai.

“Therefore, our course content will not only ensure the trainees learn how to operate all the systems in a modern 4X4 vehicle to maximise effectiveness, but also to assess whether it is safe to proceed when faced with any particular situation.”Sar4Trac also offers courses tailored for enthusiasts who are new to 4X4 vehicles so that they are equipped to enjoy their activities safely, and with a minimum of risks.

* For further information about Sar4Trac, contact Paul Si paulsi.tmi@gmail.com or (+60)19 221 9244