Yeoh (centre) and Mohd Fauzi (to her left) alongside other VIPs, guests and participants cheering for MBSJ’s car-free day at Putra Heights Community Park. — Photos: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
City council adds half marathon to car-free day, gets kudos for Putra Heights community park initiative
Subang Jaya City Council’s (MBSJ) second car-free day programme this year featured a relay race over a half-marathon distance.
“We fully support the activity as it promotes healthy lifestyle practices and helps improve the local community’s fitness level,” said Subang Jaya mayor Datuk Mohd Fauzi Yatim of the five-person 21km race organised in collaboration with Alumni Look East Policy Society.
He said the local council aimed to achieve a healthy city agenda.
He also highlighted the good relations between Subang Jaya and Hioki in Japan, which was established through a friendship city programme.
“Aside from promoting our city at the international level, we also aim to further strengthen the cooperation between the two cities and empower knowledge and human capital exchange,” he said at the event in Putra Heights Community Park attended by deputy Japanese ambassador to Malaysia Karimata Atsushi.
Japanese cultural dance brightening up the programme.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh congratulated MBSJ for its positive initiatives, including turning an idle land into Putra Heights Community Park, an amenity for the people.
“I believe MBSJ is one of the most proactive local authorities that can become a good example to other city councils,” she said.
Yeoh also took the opportunity to share some of the ministry’s priorities this year to promote healthy living among Malaysians.
“We urge local authorities to find ways to accommodate senior citizens in existing
recreational parks and public facilities, so that they can maintain an active lifestyle too.”
She also highlighted the RM1,000 tax relief incentive for training and purchase of equipment for 103 types of sports from next year.
The next edition of MBSJ’s car-free day is scheduled for August and the final event is set for December. — By AISYAH ANESEE
