Jogger Zooms Home To Join Mum In Batu Pahat's Car-Free Day Run

BATU PAHAT, Dec 27 (Bernama) – Every time she hears about a running event, she definitely signs up and joins it. In fact, for the 2024 Southern Volunteers Fun Run held today (Dec 27), Universiti PolyTech Malaysia (UPTM) student Najwa Natasya Mohd Hisham, 22, made a quick dash home just to participate.

According to Najwa, she shares a passion for casual running activities with her mother Sarizai Japeri, 45, and also has a group known as the ‘Casual Run Group’ to join organised running events.

She said that even though this week she has activities at her campus in Kuala Lumpur, she was willing to return home to join the Fun Run with her mother and group members who are her mother’s friends.

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“For me and the Casual Run group, our goal is to participate in at least one running activity every month. It’s also how we maintain our health and practise a healthy lifestyle.

“Since it started in 2018, I, along with my mother and two of her friends, Mazalina Mujaid, 50, and Rozilawati Mohamad, 40, have taken part in more than 20 running activities together in this district. It’s also how I spend time with my mother,” she told Bernama at the 2024 Southern Volunteers Fun Run at Dataran Penggaram here today.

The running event held in conjunction with the Batu Pahat Municipal Council (MPBP) and ‘Yok Mangan’ Car-Free Day was officiated by the Johor State Deputy Secretary (Sports, Youth and Volunteers), Datuk On Jabbar@Jaafar, and was attended by MPBP president Ezahar Abu Sairin.

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Meanwhile, Ezahar stated that this casual run will be held more frequently, that he himself will also be participating in.

He disclosed that he has already participated in about 10 running activities this year as a way to encourage Batu Pahat residents to engage in a healthy lifestyle.

Regarding the Car-Free Day, the council aims to make MPBP a sustainable and inclusive municipality.

“MPBP is also committed to ensuring that development not only impacts the community but also takes into account aspects of environmental preservation and greenery.

“In this regard, MPBP has set a target for Batu Pahat to achieve Smart City and Low Carbon status by 2030 (BP2030),” he said.

He added that other activities held include the Safe City Exhibition, safe e-scooter driving sessions, redemption of recyclable items for daily necessities, a flea market for used clothing and a mudball (using microorganisms to treat polluted water) making demonstration.

-- BERNAMA