THE eighth edition of the Northern Stats Run, spanning three states this year, saw 1,600 enthusiastic runners participating early this morning.
The event was organised by the Department of Statistics Penang in collaboration with its counterparts in the northern states of Kedah, Perak and Perlis.
State Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye, who was the guest of honour at the event, joined the flagging-off ceremony at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) campus in Nibong Tebal at 7am alongside Penang Statistics Department director Khairolnizam Hassan and its deputy director Adrian Austin Spiji.
Khairolnizam said Northern Stats Run this year was unique as it spanned across Penang, Kedah and Perak.
The event included competitive 10km and 5km runs, serving as a platform to enhance public awareness about the department’s mission and also fostering closer ties with the community.
“We have previously organised a few runs in different locations in other states from 2013 until now. Among the previous locations were Putrajaya, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Jeli.
“For this year, we decided to organise it in Penang. We hope the public can gain a better understanding of our scope of work and functionality.
“We are unlike other well-known agencies or enforcement bodies. So, we hope this event will help promote our Statistics Department as well,” he told Buletin Mutiara today.
According to Khairolnizam, the 10km and 5km runs managed to attract 300 and 1,300 participants respectively.
Story and pix by Riadz Akmal