Ruslie and Nizam taking photos before embarking on their 14-day walk to Tawau.
AS 2025 dawned, villagers in Sabah’s Kiulu area decided to mark the occasion with a creative, eco-conscious twist: transforming waste into something beautiful and fun.
The Kampung Nawoi Tagal Operators in Kiulu, a sub-district in Tuaran, repurposed discarded polystyrene food containers into decorative boats, which became the centrepiece of their lively New Year celebration.
The boat race, held on Jan 1 by the riverside, was not just about competition.
“Although the river was a bit murky from the rain the day before, winning the race was secondary. What mattered most was that everyone had fun,” said Kiulu community development leader Golubi Guntarek.
“Of course, after the fun, the boats were carefully removed from the river to ensure we didn’t pollute our waterways.”
Among the creative works of the Kampung Nawoi villagers, turning waste to ‘boats’.
The boat race was just one of many exciting events during the Tagal Operators’ Family Day, an annual celebration aimed at strengthening community bonds.
The day also featured a lucky draw, traditional games, and a lively karaoke competition.
“This event was more than just a celebration. It strengthened community ties, promoted environmental awareness, and fostered a spirit of cooperation among Tagal operators,” Guntarek added, hopeful that the creative initiative would inspire similar activities in the future.
In Sabah, “Tagal” refers to a community-based conservation system that encourages local involvement in managing and protecting natural resources, particularly rivers and freshwater ecosystems.
With its focus on environmental consciousness, family fun, and community bonding, the Family Day celebration was a vibrant start to 2025, serving as a reminder that a “new you, new us, and new beginning” is best achieved together.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Sabah, adventurers Ruslie Jokulon and Mhd Alnizam Nadzree were ringing in the new year with their own adventurous spirit.
After completing an incredible 335km walk from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan in December, the duo embarked on a new challenge: a 220km journey from Sandakan to Tawau.
“This time, our walk was even more challenging. It rained heavily, and when the sun came out, the heat was unbearable,” said Ruslie, a 56-year-old motivational speaker and adventurer known as Coach Lie.
He and his 33-year-old companion, Mhd Alnizam (affectionately called Nizam), began their walk from Sandakan on Dec 17, reaching Tawau on Dec 31, exactly as planned.
“There was a large crowd to welcome us, and the people we met along the way were incredibly warm and helpful. In some areas, they even walked with us, especially through places considered dangerous,” Ruslie shared.
However, their journey wasn’t without its oddities. In Kampung Dewata, Ruslie experienced a strange and unsettling sensation.
“It was dark and quiet. I was walking about a kilometre ahead of Nizam when I suddenly smelled something rotten. I thought it was just a dead animal nearby, but the smell followed me for a kilometre.
“I began to feel uneasy, so I said a prayer, and the smell mysteriously disappeared.”
The eerie events didn’t end there.
While Nizam was filming a live TikTok stream, one of his followers sent a message with a photo showing something behind Nizam that looked like a “pocong”.
In Malaysian folklore, a “pocong” is believed to be the trapped soul of someone who has recently passed away.
Ruslie and Nizam taking photos before embarking on their 14-day walk to Tawau.
“It was unsettling, but we decided to spend the night at a nearby mosque, where locals later told us we had passed an old cemetery,” said Ruslie.
Despite the encounters, Ruslie reflected positively on the adventure.
“We ended 2024 with a blast. It was a journey full of challenges and memories, reminding us that with perseverance, we can face any obstacle.
“As we step into 2025, let’s carry forward the spirit of adventure and perseverance. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow, and every new beginning is a chance to make memories together.”
Both the Kampung Nawoi Tagal Operators’ Family Day and Ruslie and Nizam’s remarkable walk remind us that the New Year is not just about celebrations, but about creating meaningful moments, overcoming challenges and strengthening connections with those around us.
