Metro

Thursday October 8, 2009

First of base jumping series begins in Kuantan

Story and photos by SIMON KHOO


KUANTAN: A total of 16 base jumpers took the plunge one after the other from 96m on top of Teruntum Complex here in the first of a series of nationwide tests of courage.

The event was part of the KL Tower Interna­tional Jump Malaysia 2009.

Of the jumpers, 11 were Malaysians and the others from Australia, India, New Zealand (two) and Turkey.

Touchdown: A jumper landing on the field.

Base jumping is a sport using a parachute with the participants jumping from fixed objects such as buildings, bridges and cliffs.

Present to launch the event was State Arts, Heritage and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Shafik Fauzan Sharif who used an air horn to signal the start of the jump.

Also present were Tioman Development Authority general manager Datuk Hashim Mat Tahir, Pahang Tourism Action Council general manager Idros Yahya and Senator Ng Fook Heng.

The other stops in the base jumping series are Felda Residence Hotel (Terengganu), Menara Alor Star (Kedah), Menara Pelita (Kuching), Menara Tun Mustapa (Kota Kinabalu), Menara Komtar (Penang) and Menara Taming Sari (Malacca).

Shafik challenged Mat Rempits who love to rev up their machines and race illegally to take up the sport to show their boldness.

Patriotic: A local jumper carrying the Pahang flag and navigating his parachute to land.

“Prove to us that you have the guts by participating in this sport, instead of being a nuisance by speeding on the road.

“I believe that extreme sports such as base jumping should be promoted in Pahang as it is safe with proper guidance and does not need a lot of funds,” he said.

Shafik said that locals might not be interested in the sport because there was a lack of proper sites for training.

Malaysian Jamaludin Ismail, 54, from Permatang Badak, has been passionate about base jumping since he joined the army many years ago.

Jamaludin said he took up base jumping seriously two years ago and had done more than 50 jumps.

“This sport gives a sense of pride and satisfaction as not many are daring enough to take it up. I just love jumping and it’s a thrill.

“I invite all youths to join me,” he said, adding that with proper training the sport was not as dangerous.

Jamaludin, one of the oldest base jumpers in Malaysia, said he was adamant to continue with his passion even though his family had voiced disapproval.

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