Samudra Vespa 1Malaysia Expedition to Mecca Hailed for Courage

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) -- The Samudra Vespa 1Malaysia Expedition to Mecca has been praised for its gutsy performance and courage in promoting the spirit of 1Malaysia. This pat on the back came from Malaysia's consul general in Karachi, Abu Bakar Mamat, who said that the eight team members proved that Malaysians could go the distance in turning their dreams into reality. Abu Bakar flagged off the expedition on Monday at Rumah Malaysia (Malaysia's House) in Karachi and the team continued its journey across Pakistan, from Khuzdar to Quetta in the province of Balochistan, before crossing the Pakistan-Iran border at Taftan on Wednesday, June 19. Abu Bakar and the consulate staff were joined by local Vespa enthusiasts who extended their moral support by riding out with the group as they departed Karachi. In a text message to Bernama here yesterday, he said the expedition also proved to be an eye-opener for travellers around the world who had thought that travelling by road in Pakistan was not safe. He said the group was scheduled to travel some 3,000 kilometres in Pakistan, proudly flying the Malaysian national flag, Jalur Gemilang, and enhancing the Malaysian presence in the cities where they stopped by. Meanwhile, the group's leader, Rahim Amat, 61, told Bernama that apart from missing Malaysian food during their journey, some of the challenges faced by the group were mechanical problems with their bikes. "Surprisingly, the parts are available in Karachi and problems have been resolved," he said. Rahim said the mechanical problems forced the group to stay longer in Karachi and their entry visa to Iran expired. "We are very grateful to the Malaysian consulate in Karachi for addressing this issue with the Iranian consulate in Karachi and Quetta," he said. The group started its journey in Malaysian state of Melaka in May and entered Pakistan from India through the famous Wagah border in Lahore and travelled through Multan and Sukkur before arriving in Karachi on Thursday, June 13. -- BERNAMA