Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) chief executive officer Tan Sri Khalid Ramli (fourth from left) handing a mock cheque to Berita Harian group editor Datuk Mior Kamarul Shahid (second from right). Witnessing the event are Sungai Chenang Fishing Management Community chairman Asri Shaaban (left), Lada events and promotions manager Azmil Munif Mohd Bukhari (second from left), Lada planning and development deputy chief executive officer Hanaffi Ahmad (centre), Media Prima Berhad executive director (news and editorial operations) Datuk Ahmad A. Talib (fourth from right) and Lada deputy chief executive officer (management) A. Rahman Zainol (right) at the launching ceremony of the Langkawi International Fishing Tournament 2012 in Kuah yesterday. Pic by Amran Hamid
After being absent for four years, Langkawi International Fishing Tournament 2012 (LIFT) is making a comeback, this time with a record-breaking 400 local and international anglers.
The two-day tournament, organised by Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) and Berita Harian, will see participants vying for a total of RM65,500 in cash prizes.
It will be held at Awana Porto Malai Resort here between June 30 and July 1.
Media Prima Berhad executive director (news and editorial operations) Datuk Ahmad A. Talib said after four years of absence, LIFT was making a comeback and would definitely be an event to be remembered by both local and international anglers.
He said the event was to help promote Langkawi as one of the world’s sports fishing destination, as well as to help realise the vision of transforming Langkawi into one of the world’s top 10 tourist destinations. He said the success of the tournament would see it taking place annually here.
The aim of the annual event was to highlight the abundance of fish in the waters surrounding the Langkawi archipelago and to boost the island’s claim as an international sports fishing destination.
Lada chief executive officer Tan Sri Khalid Ramli hoped Langkawi would be known as a fishing haven after the tournament, with expected entries from Singapore, Thailand, Australia and Indonesia.
Also present was Berita Harian group editor Datuk Mior Kamarul Shahid.
The tournament will be held within a 35km radius of the island.
The top prize of RM20,000 and a trophy will be given in the team category where the winner will be decided by those with the heaviest combined weight of five types of fish.
The runner-up will bag RM8,000, while RM5,000 will go to the third place winner.
The entry fee is RM1,200 for the team category while the solo event is RM300.
The fees for both categories are inclusive of a boat, an experienced skipper and fresh squids as bait.
