3,000 cycle with Head of State

KOTA KINABALU: The large turnout at the cycling event held in conjunction with the 65th official birthday of the Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin yesterday exceeded all expectations, said Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Jaujan Sambakong.

Jaujan, who is also the main organizing committee chairman, said more than 3,000 participants showed up to ride with Juhar.

“We had expected about 1,000 participants, but over 3,000 people turned up for the event.

“The overwhelming response exceeded our expectations,” he said after the event.

Juhar and his consort, Toh Puan Norlidah R.M. Jasni, accompanied by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal and his wife, Datin Seri Shuryani Shaib, cabinet ministers and Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, cycled from the Likas Bay Public Park to the Sabah State Administrative Complex (PPNS) and back to the starting point.

The cycling event was the first held in conjunction with the official birthday of the Head of State.

Jaujan hoped the event would be organized next year and involve not only people in Kota Kinabalu, but all over Sabah.

Juhar also surprised the crowd when he did an impromptu electric guitar performance at the event at Likas Bay.

Jaujan said the performance was a token of appreciation from the Sabah governor to the public who turned up for the programme.

Juhar and Shafie leading more than 1,500 cyclists at the Sunday Family Ride cycling.

Juhar (third left), Norlidah (third right), Shafie (second left) and Shuryani (second right) jointly cut the birthday cake while Jaujan (right) and others look on.