Away of fun to a greener

KL: DATUK Seri Najib Razak yesterday joined some 10,000 cyclists in the fifth Kuala Lumpur Car-Free Morning cam paign to promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce carbon emission in the city. The prime minister, clad in cycling attire, flagged off the cyclist s at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) before cycling with them for 3km, passing Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Ampang, Jalan P Ramlee and back to KLCC. Najib, after finishing the ride, also spent time chatting with the prticipants, including foreigners, before he left. Later, he shared photos of the event on his Facebook page and wrote that the event was part of the government’s policy to reduce carbon emission by 40 per cent by 2020 and initiative to improve the liveability of Kuala Lumpur. “I had fun cycling at DBKL’s #KLCarFreeMorning to support the government’s policy to reduce 40 per cent of carbon emissions by 2020. “We need to make a collective effort to promote a greener KL. It was also a great exercise for me!” he said in his Facebook posting. Apart from cycling, some participants and their families also rode on skateboards or jog along roads. Also present were Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal and the event committee chairman Datuk Naim Mohamad. The one-day event also saw the presentation of 400 bicycles to 80 residents' associations in Kuala Lumpur and featured free medical check-ups; culture, arts and recre ational activities, and lucky draw organised for partic ipants. Phesal said due to encouraging response, the government would consider holding the event twice a month, instead of on the first Sunday of every month, to promote a healthier and greener way of life. “We would be able to create a good lifestyle culture for Malaysians to embrace,” he said, adding that the monthly event also showed the government’s commitment to reduce carbon emission in the city by 40 per cent by 2020. The pledge, he said, was made by Najib in the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit five years ago. Phesal said the car-free day had recorded overwhelming response with 2,000 participants when it was introduced in January, followed by 2,500 participants in February, 5,000 (March) and 7,000 (May). Naim, in echoing Phesal’s sentiment, said it was an honour that Najib took the time to join the event. “Our objective is to create unity, promote a healthy lifestyle and cultivate family bonding. “Firstly, we need to educate the people and once it becomes a culture, the activity will be a programme that brings families together while at the same time save the en vironment resulting in a win-win situation for everybody. He said in the programme, everybody was equal which promotes a spirit of togetherness while creating new bonds and friendships through the time spent together between families and city folks. Other organisations involved in the event were Malaysian National Cycling Federation, City Hall Department of Culture, Arts and Sports, City Hall Tourism Department, Youth and Sports Department, KPJ Healthcare, Royal malaysian police, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Malaysian Civil Defence Depart ment, as well as other non-governmental organisations and private sectors.

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