WHAT a joy it was to welcome 2022 by joining a fun and healthy activity for some 1,000 City Walk participants at the Esplanade today.
Held for the 10th edition in conjunction with the City Day celebration, the City Walk which covered several streets of George Town was organised as a hybrid event. No physical event was allowed last year due to the SOPs.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, after flagging off the 3km walk together with Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang, state Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee, Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai and Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi, joined the participants in the walk from start to finish.
Chow was also accompanied by his wife, Tan Lean Kee.
Also joining the walk was newly promoted MBPP secretary A. Rajendran, 59, who was formerly the MBPP Engineering Department director.
Though it was a cool day when the event started, all the participants were encouraged to open their umbrellas which were provided by the organisers as that would help to remind them of physical distancing while observing the standard operating procedures.
Besides that, they were also encouraged to mask on to protect themselves and others.
The event had recorded as many as 10,000 participants pre-Covid days.
Chow said even though it was limited to 1,000 participants this year by the National Security Council and Health Ministry, the event was still lively as the walkers were in high spirits to start the new year on a healthy note.
“On behalf of the state government, I am very glad to see the commitment of the participants during the walk that helps to further unify the people from various backgrounds.
“The state government also values the support of the people in joining hands to realise the Penang2030 vision, that is a Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation,” Chow said in his speech.
Yew said that all 1,000 entries were snapped up within 20 hours after the registration was opened. However, he said those who were unsuccessful in registering for the event were still able to take part virtually.
He said while MBPP was organising the event, some of its staff members are currently participating in disaster relief work in Selangor and Pahang due to the recent floods.
He paid tribute to them, saying that the Penang city councils were the first to send teams to help the victims.
Prior to the start of the walk, a Zumba group got the participants to warm up through a series of dance movements as loud music blared out from the speakers.
Among the participants at the walk were human resources officer Sufian Bustamin, his wife Zati Azhani, a finance executive (both 32), and their five-year-old daughter Safiyah.
“This is our first time taking part in the walk. We usually go back to my hometown in Kluang during the new year. But this time, we don’t want to miss it. We registered for the event as soon as we saw it on MBPP Facebook. We will only go back to Johor in two weeks’ time.
“We don’t want to continue sleeping during the New Year’s Day. We want to do something and we’re excited to be part of the event.
“In a multiracial country like ours, this event is very good in enhancing unity among the people,” Sufian said.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud