Ex-soldier to embark on solo Merdeka run again
ALOR SETAR: Retired soldier Nasir Abas is again doing a solo 500km Merdeka run to Kuala Lumpur to ignite the spirit of patriotism in young people.
The run will be flagged off on Saturday at Dataran Masjid Zahir here and end at Dataran Merdeka in conjunction with the National Day celebration.
Nasir, 63, from Taman Rakyat, said he will be running for the third consecutive year in the hope that his action will revive the spirit of patriotism in youth.
He said young people seemed to have forgotten the true meaning of independence.
“During the run, I’ll carry the Jalur Gemilang in the hope that they will see me striving on despite my age,” he said.
Nasir has been preparing for the run since a month ago by exercising, including jogging 32km daily between his house and Kuala Kedah.
“For the run, I’ll start at 9am and break for lunch at 12.30pm, and then run again from 2.30pm to 7pm every day,” he said.
Nasir said he retired from the army in 1998 after 21 years of service and was motivated to do the run because of his love for the country.
He was listed in the Malaysia Book of Records after he ran 1,754km in 30 days across the Peninsula from Kelantan to Perlis in 2002.
The following year, he etched another record for running 2,068km from Tawau to Kuching in 53 days. — Bernama