The Unsung Heroes Of Ba Kelalan....

With limited flight frequency, a return trip by road to the Ba’Kelalan highland in northern Sarawak could cost an astounding RM6,000 depending on the weather condition and the length of stay.

The fee includes renting of a specially modified four wheel drive and a driver who knows treacherous terrain of Ba’Kelalan located 973 metres above sea level. Ba’Kelalan is 160km from Lawas town.

Armed with shotguns, ammunition, hoes, toolboxes, axes, choppers, canvas and food ration this group of daredevils are risking their lives every week either to bring sundry goods or petrol and even bring important documents like passports to the local communities there.

Those expecting the trip will be a smooth one will be disappointed as they have to endure a punishing, back-breaking logging road, a tar-sealed road with many potholes and mud-filled road that could scare the living daylight for city
folks who are not familiar with off-road conditions.

“It is not for the faint-hearted,” 43-year-old Ating Padan, a Lun Bawang native, told Bernama.

“Negotiating sharp and slippery bends, crossing muddy roads and avoiding timber lorries were some of the challenges we have to face,” said the father of four, adding that the trip could take between five to 13 hours depending on the
weather.

With two years of experience, the most interesting experience he had encountered so far was when he was chased by a wild boar while taking a rest.

“Luckily my friends had shouted to warn me and I immediately ran as fast as I could,” he said.

But that experience has not deterred him until today although his family was not keen on his profession.

“I was in the recycling business before, but business was slow so I decided to venture into something else and then came this idea of transporting goods and carrying passengers to Ba’kelalan which is in high demand,” he said.

Ating opted to buy a second-hand double-cab Toyota Hilux for RM48,000 and further invested RM3,600 buying a new set of tyres specially for off-road condition.

“There was a lot of misconception about our profession, claiming that we are in it for the lucrative income which is untrue,” he said.

He said if anyone wants to charter his service for one return trip during unpredictable weather could cost RM4,500 to RM6,000.

“What people don’t know is the risk we have to take because only highly skilled drivers can reach Ba’Kelalan,” he said.

“We also have to spend at least 30 per cent or 40 per cent of the fee we get to service our vehicle, wash the interior and exterior parts of the vehicle and replace any parts to ensure the vehicle is in tip-top condition,” he said.

Shirtless with short pants, slippers and sometimes bare-footed, most of them have to drive in groups as driving alone posed a greater risk.

“We have an unwritten code of conduct here, if one vehicle breaks down then all must stop to give assistance. Those who refuse to give any help will be boycotted,” he said.

Coincidentally, the four-wheel drive carrying this Bernama reporter and photographer suddenly broke down while the driver was trying to assist the driver of another vehicle that was trapped for two hours in the mud.

After five hours trying to identify the main cause of the problem, Ating finally decided that we had to spend at least one night in the Ba’Kelalan jungle.

“We have to wait for my relative to come down here… not sure whether he can come by tomorrow, he is a mechanic, he should know the problem,” he said.

For Nelson George, 40, the most experienced among them, one of the most harrowing experience he went through while driving along the notorious Ba’Kelalan trail was when his vehicle turned turtle.

“It was raining and slippery, suddenly when we were driving up a steep corner, one of the tyres went off the track and a minute later we found overselves upside down,” he said.

Luckily no life was lost but the 40-year-old father of three said the incident has not affected his passion.

Nelson’s partner, Paru Garang, 46, said his fee per trip is about RM1,500 and this excludes fares for those from Ba”kelalan who wanted to go to Lawas town.

“We charge between RM120 and RM150 per person depending on weather condition,” he said.

Rosebiah Balang, 60, described them as taxi drivers but the job is not as easy as it looks.

“They have the toughest job in the world with low financial returns, risking their lives for others and yet they are willing to do it every week,” she said.

They are truly the unsung heroes of Ba’Kelalan. — BERNAMA