Go, Malaysia, GO!
PUTRAJAYA: Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa kicked off the Kuala Lumpur 2017 Torch Run at the administrative capital here yesterday. Flagged-off at 7.35am, the run saw Ali and 300 other runners carrying the torch along the first leg of the 7.7km run — a 1km route from Dataran Gemilang to the AttorneyGeneral’s Chambers. Secretaries-general from various ministries, senior officers and department heads were among the participants who braved the light rain and cloudy skies in a show of support for Malaysia’s athletes, who were set to compete in the upcoming 29th Sea Games and 9th Asean Para Games to be held in Kuala Lumpur.
Earlier, Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan, who arrived in a hot air balloon, passed the torch to Ali.
Other prominent torchbearers who participated in the event were Treasury secretarygeneral Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, Public Service Department director-general Datuk Seri Zainal Rahim Seman, Customs director-general Datuk Subromaniam Tholasy, and Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim.
The runners passed some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin mosque and the Putra mosque, and the Perdana Putra building.
The run ended at the Youth and Sports Ministry at 9.30am.
The torch run, which began on May 14, was expected to conclude in Kuala Lumpur today ahead of the highly-anticipated sporting event.
The Sea Games will be held from Aug 19 to 30, while the Asean Para Games will run from Sept 17 to 23.
Apart from Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya is also set to host several games, including waterskiing and wakeboard, triathlon, equestrian (polo), aquatics and cycling events.