MOUNT KINABALU VENUE FOR BIGGEST INFLATABLE '1MALAYSIA' LOGO ATTEMPT

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 (Bernama)-- Marina manager K. Ragunathan will try to
create history by inflating what he hopes is the biggest replica of the
1Malaysia logo at the peak of Mount Kinabalu on Aug 20.

Ragunathan, 47, said the initiative was in conjunction with Malaysia's 54th
Merdeka Day celebrations this month.

The former fitness coach of the Pahang football team said he had already
completed building the logo which, when fully inflated, will be 15m high and 8m
wide.

The replica has on it the words 'People First, Performance Now,' he
told reporters here.

Ragunathan said that he would be assisted by seven experienced climbers of
various races from Sabah, but he would be carrying the 1Malaysia logo weighing
30kg by himself.

In preparation for his mission, Ragunathan said he had been training
since Dec 2010, including by carrying a backpack weighing 30kg up mountains,
including Mount Kinabalu itself, the highest summit in Southeast Asia.

"I'm aware of other projects promoting the 1Malaysia concept, so I want to
try something different," he said.

Through the mission, he hoped to spread the message of tolerance and
solidarity among the various races.

The three-day expedition will begin on Aug 18, with the attempt at
inflating the logo scheduled to take place two days later.

Citing Malaysia Book of Records rules, Ragunathan said he would need to
place the logo at the peak of Mount Kinabalu for 20 minutes for the attempt to
be deemed successful.

The mission is being sponsored by Universal Fitness and Leisure Sdn Bhd
which is contributing RM20,000 (USD6,608) in cash and kind.