8,000 people feel the beauty of Putrajaya

A few days ago, there was an event in Putrajaya. Putrajaya's Night Marathon was held for a few objectives and one of them is to let people view the beauty of Putrajaya at the night time.

I've been to Putrajaya a few times at night and all I can say, you'll regret it if you don't bring your camera. The view is spectacular and you won't find such scenery anywhere else.

8,000 Runners Participate In Putrajaya’s First Night Marathon


Feb 8, 2010

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 7 (Bernama) — Putrajaya’s inaugural Night Marathon saw the fervent and rapturous participation of more than 8,000 runners from 15 countries, including Malaysia, at the event Saturday night.

Participants from Europe, Africa and Asia gave each other a run for the money in the 15 categories, ranging from the full Olympic distance of 42.195km to the 5km fun run.

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, his wife and daughter took part in the latter category.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek flagged off the full marathon amidst a fanfare of blazing lights and modern club music.

During a press conference, Raja Nong Chik noted Putrajaya’s suitability for such night activities due to its design and architectural beauty.

“The runners would enjoy the marathon because of its beauty and this could be one of the ways we promote Putrajaya’s beauty to tourists.

“If Singapore can have an F1 race at night, why not we have a night marathon?,” he asked.

Cash prizes amounting to RM297,700 were given away, including RM20,000 for Men’s category winner Alex Melly, from Kenya, and RM15,000 to Women’s category winner Amutha Arumugam from Malaysia.

Mention must be made of disabled Md Shariff Abdullah, 42, dubbed the ‘Singaporean Bladerunner’, who took part with a specialised prosthetic leg designed for running.

Shariff, who was born with only one foot and plans to scale Mount Everest in 2015, said he began competitive running to disprove his doctor who had said he could not run or walk anymore.

“In 2008, I underwent another surgery which removed another five inches of my left leg. My doctor told me I would not be able to run anymore but I wanted to prove him wrong.

“Now, I’m on a mission to call upon the disabled and amputees in the world that even with such a disability, you can still run, you can still walk. If I can do it, why can’t you do it,?” challenged Shariff.

The Night Marathon was Shariff’s sixth competitive race, and the second in Malaysia, the first being the Penang Bridge Marathon last year.

– BERNAMA

Raja Nong Chik kawan orang miskin

Siapa nak jadi miskin? Tiada siapa yang minta jadi miskin. Semua orang mahu hidup senang. Kalau boleh, nak goyang kaki di rumah tapi duit tetap ada. Tapi tak semua benda percuma. Ramai antara kita yang bekerja siang malam, tak kira penat lelah. Tapi masih di takuk lama. Jika tidak diberi peluang macam mana mereka nak maju, itu kata mereka. Walau pun bukan untuk semua perkara, tapi kadang-kadang itu betul.

Kalau kita lihat di sekolah-sekolah kampung, ramai yang tidak dapat menyambung pelajaran ke peringkat lebih tinggi kerana keluarga tidak mampu menanggung yuran. Keputusan mereka sangat cemerlang tapi kerana tiada peluang, impian dan kepakaran terkubur begitu sahaja.

Siapa nak bagi mereka peluang? Siapa yang nak berjuang untuk mereka? Siapa yang nak tolong mereka di kala mereka tersepit tanpa dihiraukan?

Basmi miskin tegar akhir 2010: Raja Nong Chik

KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan dan Kesejahteraan Bandar meletakkan sasaran untuk membasmi kemiskinan tegar di seluruh Wilayah Persekutuan (WP) menjelang akhir tahun ini, kata Menterinya, Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

Beliau berkata, bagi tujuan itu pihaknya kini giat melatih 148 ketua isi rumah (KIR) miskin tegar dan 390 KIR miskin di Kuala Lumpur dan Labuan dengan kemahiran membuat kraftangan, jahitan dan ilmu keusahawanan bagi membolehkan mereka bekerja sendiri atau diupah majikan.

"Kementerian juga mengeluarkan lesen penjaja kepada golongan miskin tegar dan miskin serta memberi khidmat nasihat dan kursus bagi membolehkan mereka menjadi penjaja tulen," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian dalam ucapan menjunjung kasih kepada Pemangku Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdul Halim Mu''adzam Shah pada Istiadat Pengurniaan Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Wilayah Persekutuan di Istana Negara, semalam.

Raja Nong Chik berkata, selain usaha pembasmian kemiskinan, tumpuan turut dilakukan terhadap penambahbaikan dan peningkatan infrastruktur khususnya di kawasan Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya.

“Bagi meningkatkan kualiti hidup masyarakat di bandar supaya lebih indah, selesa dan selamat, pelbagai usaha penambahbaikan sudah dijalankan di Hentian Puduraya iaitu dengan membina laluan pejalan kaki berbumbung, jejantas dan mewujudkan sistem bas yang lebih teratur manakala di Putrajaya pula sistem ‘park and ride’ kini dalam peringkat kemas kini," katanya.

Raja Nong Chik berkata, kebajikan 87,000 warga Labuan juga tidak dilupakan apabila kerajaan menerusi Perbadanan Labuan kini giat melaksanakan beberapa projek baru dan sambungan di bawah Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan bagi merangsang pertumbuhan ekonomi di wilayah itu. "Antara projek itu ialah menjadikan Labuan sebagai hab pengedaran halal, pembinaan gerai makan di Kampung Lubok Temiang dan dua blok pangsapuri untuk menempatkan penduduk setinggan di Kampung Sungai Bangat," katanya.

- Sumber: Berita Harian Online

Inilah kawan sebenar. Tolong bila mereka memerlukan. Bukan setakat berkongsi kegembiraan bila mereka senang.

Well done, Raja Nong Chik!