AZLAILY AIMS TO FINISH RACE
Socso deputy CEO cycles120km a week to prepare for 160km bike race
SOCIAL Security Organisation (Socso) deputy chief executive officer (corporate) Datin Azlaily Abd Rahman is no stranger to cycling.
Azlaily, who represented the country in the 1989 Southeast Asian Games for cycling, loves discussing issues related to the sport.
Although she had stopped cycling to focus on her career and family, her love for the sport was rekindled when she was encouraged by her friend to take up the sport again five years ago.
“I cycled using my old Legend bike that I used for the Sea Games.
“I later bought another bicycle. I am now into long-distance cycling.”
She will participate in the 160km Century Ride category under the New Straits Times C-Cycle Challenge 2018 at Eco Sanctuary in Kota Kemuning, Selangor, on Sept 23.
She will be joined by her husband, Datuk Mahat Bahari, 66, her son, Mohd Fahdley Mahat, 32, and Socso investment division, head of equity, Mohd Damshal Damit, 50.
Azlaily said she had been training for the long-distance ride.
“I tried the route that will be used for the event last Tuesday.
“It is relatively a flat route, but only gets a little hilly when approaching the 90km mark.
“I believe I can survive the ride, although I have never ridden for 160km at one go.
“My aim is to finish the race.” She said she had set her weekly target of 120km in preparation for the event.
Azlaily said she cycled three times a week for one to two hours for a distance of 45 to 50km.
She said to ensure all Socso officers and employees stay active, the organisation participated in the ACTIV@WORK programme, where each employee was given a fitness band.
“This is to track their steps. “We have set a target for them to take between 3,000 and 6,000 steps daily.
“Those who reach the target will be awarded.
“We also formed the Perkeso Cycling Team.
“Members of the team will cycle together once a month.”
Cycling, she said, was the best activity for those with knee and joint issues as it did not give direct impact on their knees.
She said cycling should be promoted to encourage Malaysians to stay active.
“We have an active prime minister (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad), who cycles around the Putrajaya lake.
“So, if we encourage cycling, it can attract more tourists to come here.”
Azlaily hoped safety would be prioritised for the competition.
“I hope traffic control will be good and that officers will be stationed at each pit stop along the route.”