KUCHING: This morning’s heavy rain did not deter more than 8,000 individuals who participated in outdoor activities such as the Fun Ride, Fun Run, and Family Walk during the one-day 2023 state-level Fit Malaysia Roadshow.
After flagging off these activities at the Sarawak Youth and Sports Complex at 7:15 am, Deputy Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) Minister Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu remarked on the impressive turnout.
“The Fit Malaysia programme commenced in 2017 and saw a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“But today, it has resumed and continues with the goal of fostering a sports culture within the community,” he said.
Rentap added that MYSED will continue to support the programme as it encourages people to stay fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
“That is also why, under MYSED, we continue with the ‘Tiada Minggu Tanpa Programme,’ where every week there will be programmes, among others, covering sports.
“Most importantly, we also want to live up to the spirit of Sarawakians to be together, especially with the Malaysian Games (SUKMA) approaching next year,” he said.
He further said the state has many existing facilities, such as stadiums and public parks, which could be utilised more often for organising sports-related activities.
“We also want to create a mindset that sports are for all and not limited to just the youth. This is important because when we examine the breakdown of age, we often find that older individuals tend to engage less in physical activities.
“So, it is equally crucial to encourage older adults to stay physically active because this can reduce their frequency of hospital visits.
“In summary, adopting a sports culture offers health benefits, and when you are fit, your medical fees will be less,” he stressed.
Earlier, Rentap flagged off the 30km Fun Ride, 10km Fun Ride, 5km Fun Run, and 3km Family Walk.
Additionally, other activities and competitions held included Jump Rope Performance, Aerobicton Performance, Mass Aerobics, Jump Rope Competition, Aerobathon, Strong Fit, Arm Wrestling, Fitness Clinic, Fitness Challenge, Fitness Explorace, Basketball 3 on 3, Sports Massage, and others.
Meanwhile, among those present was the Department of Youth and Sports Sarawak director, Lamat Nyalau.
