Unleashing My Paintball Passion in “Sarawak Energy – Media Paintball Challenge”

By Hilda binti Perhi, Corporate Communications Department

I was very excited to be given the opportunity to write a blog on our recent activity, Sarawak Energy-Media Paintball Challenge, under the initiative of Corporate Communications Department.

How did this challenge come about?  Our Corporate Communications Manager, Ahadiah, told us that she wanted to organise something different as one of our media relations activities, something that stimulates team building.  When I showed her my paintball photos, she immediately jumped to the idea of paintball challenge!  So, I was appointed as coordinator of the game.  This gives me the opportunity to share my passion for paintball with my colleagues and media friends, show them the thrill and excitement of the game, despite their comments on the bruises that I get from the paintball pellets.  This is the time for them to have a feel of the game.

Group photo of the players from the Media and Sarawak Energy

Paintball is the fastest growing extreme sport. Unlike other extreme sports like mountain climbing, motocross, stock car racing, sky diving, white water kayaking, etc., paintball is the only extreme sport that gives you a high adrenaline rush without the risk of serious injury.  It also does not require extensive training and has no barriers for gender, strength, or age.

In order to play the game, you will need the following equipments:

• paintballs,
• air supply,
• paint marker (gun),
• protective head/eye gear, and
• protective clothing.

Some of the equipments for the game

The paintball is a non-toxic water soluble, edible “paint”. It is propelled through a marker by a constant air supply towards its target. The head/eye gear is a specific protective mask that shields the face, neck, and ears.

Back to the game, the challenge took place on 29th June 2013 at BPP Paintball Stadium in Petra Jaya.  About 40 media members pre-registered for the game.  The registered teams were from See Hua Daily, Utusan Borneo, Bernama, the Star, Utusan Sarawak, United Daily News, Media Prima and the Borneo Post.  We divided our members (Sarawak Energy) into the media teams to play with them, not against them.  But, on the day, instead of playing 9 teams, we were short of two teams as the registered members had urgent assignments to attend to.  To make up for the lost members, Sarawak Energy had to form a team and members from TV3 and the Star were combined to form another team, called the National Media.

The lady paintballers all ready to shoot!

Safety briefing by Paul Ajah (BPP Paintball Club)

One of our media friends in action!

I was assigned to the National Media team together with Haji Johari Atok (our colleagues from EIA) who was appointed as our team manager.  As an experienced player, I was happy to lay down the strategy for the team.  Good at the game,  I have my own paintball team and we have participated in  tournaments at State and National levels such as World Cup Asia Paintball Tournament, Sarawak Cup, Borneo Cup and Kuching Cup.

We were also very fortunate that we have the support from other departments within Sarawak Energy in organising the event.  This showed the team spirit within the organisation.  Joining us were our friends from Protocol and Events (Norhaslina, Dayang Fatin, Syafiq), Policy & Government Relations (Sharina), Finance (Hossen & Ali), Building Maintenance (Hasman & Ali), Hydro (Brian & Then), EIA (Haji Johari) and Sustainability (Irwan), to make up for the numbers from Sarawak Energy.

Players in action!

As the game started to roll, I could see the excitement mounting. The players started to share about the pain when they got shot and the mistakes they have made in their ‘battle’ strategy. Some were already planning for the next challenge.

Posing for a picture before the Finals between Sarawak Energy and National Media

The challenge which started about 9 am, concluded at 12.30pm with the following results:

5^th placing: Utusan Borneo

4^th placing:  Utusan Sarawak.

2^nd runner up: See Hua Daily

1^st runner up: Sarawak Energy team

The champion goes to my team!  National Media!

By being champion, we won ourselves RM1,500 of cash prize. Wow!  What a lucky day.  Congratulations to my team members. For the first timers, it wasn’t that bad after all and congratulations for accepting the challenge and for the “battle scars”.

We are the Champions “National Media” Congratulations!!!

2nd Runner up went to See Hua Daily News

Utusan SarawakTeam

Utusan Borneo Team