There are two fun runs in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya tomorrow.
Malaysia’s capital city sees the return of the ‘Toyota Outrun’, while some 20km away, there is the ‘Petaling Jaya 10K’ race.
The Outrun event will flag off and end at Dataran Merdeka, while the Petaling Jaya run will start and finish at Laman MBPJ.
I hope the traffic will be smooth heading to the venues!
The home minister and I competed in both events last year and were looking forward to repeating them this year, but alas, we had to choose one due to the clash of dates.
We opted for the Outrun event as we had fun running in Kuala Lumpur last year as we went past many iconic landmarks in the city.
It made me realise how beautiful Kuala Lumpur is, something we don’t notice when we are in a car, trying to avoid traffic!
The run through Petaling Jaya was also quite scenic, although I was tempted to stop by the Old Town market for breakfast.
The runs last year made us realise that we should slow down at times to admire our surroundings.
Anyway, the home minister and I wanted to repeat the Outrun as it supports the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM).
For the record, cancer is the fourth leading cause of deaths in Malaysia. Hopefully, the run can help raise more awareness about the disease and NCSM.
I had the honour of volunteering as a driver for NCSM during its Covid-19 vaccination campaign during the pandemic. I witnessed the impactful work it did, and the kindness of the people involved.
At last year’s event, I received my booster shot after the race from NCSM volunteers. I credit that jab for helping me recover quickly from Covid-19.
In case you are wondering, as of June 15, there are 10,666 active Covid-19 cases in Malaysia.
Overall, there have been 5,291,716 cases, and sadly, 37,351 deaths, since the start of the pandemic. The data will be updated at 11.59pm today.
I’m glad the days of recording Covid-19 statistics are behind me, as that means that the country is ‘healthy’.
Long may that continue. Until next week, stay safe, folks.
WIN A TRIP TO THE PARIS OLYMPICS
The Olympic Council of Malaysia is hosting the ‘Olympic Day Carnival’ at The Exchange TRX, Kuala Lumpur, until June 23.
Buy an exclusive jersey from OCM’s TikTok shop for a chance to win a trip to Paris, France, for the Olympic Games.
The Paris Olympics is from July 26-Aug 11. Among the Malaysians who have booked their tickets to Paris are golfer Gavin Green, shuttlers Lee Zii Jia and Goh Jin Wei, and cyclist Datuk Azizulhasni Awang.
RAINFOREST WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Rainforest World Music Festival held annually in Kuching, Sarawak, showcases world music diversity through workshops, cultural displays, food stalls, and concerts.
It started in 1998 and has grown into an internationally-recognised event with tens of thousands of attendees, featuring various performance styles and genres.
The 27th edition is from June 28-30 and will merge responsible tourism and cultural celebrations, promoting sustainable tourism practices, and environmental stewardship.
Get your tickets now.
MELAKA INTERNATIONAL MARATHON
The Melaka International Marathon is on Aug 24-25. It is in conjunction with ‘Visit Melaka 2024’ and will start and finish at Dataran Sejarah, Ayer Keroh, Melaka.
The second edition is expected to attract 5,000 runners. To date, participants from 28 countries have signed up for the event.
The 2.5km, 5km, and 10km races are on Aug 24, while the half, and full marathon races are on Aug 25.