Run And Ride Event Marks Start Of NBOS International Week

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Aug 15 (Bernama) -- Taking advantage of the weekend holiday, about 4,000 participants converged at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), here to take part in the run and ride event in conjunction with the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) International Week. Chief Secretary to the Government Dr Ali Hamsa flagged off the NBOS Run & Ride event in which the participants stand to win cash prizes totalling US$4,461 (RM18,000) in six categories. He said the event is an initiative to encourage the people to take part in the NBOS week, especially to visit the exhibition by the government departments and agencies held in conjunction with the NBOS Open Day, which began Sunday until August 20. "What is important is that we are holding the week-long programme with several heads of government, ministers and senior government officials from abroad who are also participating. I invite the people to come to PICC (to visit the NBOS exhibition)," he said. Ali joined about 120 guests of honour, comprising senior government officers, among them, secretary-general of Treasury Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, Public Service director-general Mohamad Zabidi Zainal and Chief of Armed Forces General Zulkifeli Mohd Zin in the 1.5-km CAPAM Celebrity Walk category. The event, organised by the Malaysian Government Services Welfare and Sports Council (MAKSAK), was held in support of the biennial conference of the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) at the same venue from Aug 18 to 20. The five-km 'Fun Run' category lived up to its theme when parents brought along their children, including babies being pushed in their strollers or prams. Stealing the show in that category was Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general Lokman Hakim Ali, 45, who completed the run within half an hour. Lokman Hakim said he decided to take part in that category instead of joining other guests of honour in the CAPAM Celebrity Walk to promote sport activities among the people. "We have a vision to make Malaysia a sporting nation, so I want to encourage young people to participate in events such as this," he told Bernama. Meanwhile in the 11-km women's veteran event, former national athlete Yuan Yu Fang came in first while the men's veteran category was won by A. Vadiveelu. The men's open category for the 11-km event was won by Royal Malaysian navy personnel K. Prabudass and the women open category by S. Sheela, a civil servant. Participants were also entertained by the antics of comedian Azlee Senario, who was the compere, as well as performances by well-known singers, Ella and Aris Ariwatan. --BERNAMA