KL2017 Torch Run: Chance for People to Get Involved in SEA Games, ASEAN Para Games

SANDAKAN (Sabah), June 6 (Bernama) -- The KL2017 torch run provides a good opportunity for the people at large to get involved in the staging of the coming 29th SEA Games and 9th ASEAN Para Games, with Kuala Lumpur as the host city. Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, Raymond Tan Shu Kiah said this was in line with the theme of KL2017, “Rising Together”, which emphasised on unity, and the family and ASEAN Community spirit. Besides that, he said, the torch run also gave Malaysians the opportunity to symbolically express their support for the country’s athletes who would be competing and towards the organising of KL2017. Tan said the torch run could also promote KL2017 to the local communities directly and pump up the atmosphere across the country in the run-up to the Games. "At the same time, it enables ordinary Malaysians to have a closer view of the torch run, which is specially organised for KL2017," he said at the symbolic placing of the torch into the torch stand at Padang Bandaran Sandakan, here in the state of Sabah, Tuesday. Tan’s speech text was read out by Sandakan Municipal Council president, James Wong who also carried the torch from the town centre up to the field. Accompanying him on the run was state Youth and Sports Assistant Minister, Masiung Banah. Later at a press conference, Masiung said Sandakan was the fourth location in Sabah for the torch run after Ranau, followed by Keningau and Tawau Monday. He said the next locations would be Kota Belud, Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu and lastly Sipitang on Thursday before the run would continue in neighbouring state of Sarawak. Masiung also noted that the KL2017 torch run created history in the organising of the Games when the torch was lighted at the peak of Mount Kinabalu, Southeast Asia’s highest mountain, on Monday by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin together with 24 other climbers. Hopefully, he said, with Malaysia hosting the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, the sporting spirit would rise among Malaysians, the standard of sports in the country uplifted with Malaysia becoming a sporting powerhouse in the region, and the public persuaded to practise a healthy lifestyle. The 29th KL SEA Games will be held from Aug 19 to 30 and the ASEAN Para Games from Sept 17 to 23. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA