The Edge-Bursa Malaysia KL Rat Race raises record RM1.01m
~ News by The Edge FinancialDaily team
The drizzle came but failed to dampen the enthusiasm of over 540 corporate executives who participated in the 7th edition of The Edge-Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Rat Race on Sept 5 to raise a record RM1.01 million for 12 charitable organisations.
Taking time off from their hectic schedules, chief executive officers and managing directors of listed companies on Bursa Malaysia and their executives, some of whom were dressed in business attire, ran in the 1km CEO race.
The enthusiasm of the participants and their cheerleaders was reflected in their upbeat mood. The cheerleaders, representing their respective companies, were armed with banners, flags and musical instruments including bagpipes.
Second Finance Minister, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed flagged off the CEO race and the 4.5km main race at Bursa Malaysia's Exchange Square. The main race saw 110 teams of five runners each from 66 local and foreign, private and public-listed companies who ran the 4.5-km course.
The annual event kicked off with the CEO run, which attracted 41 top company officials. This was followed by the main race, which saw runners pounding the streets during the evening traffic rush. Some motorists wound down the windows of their cars to cheer on the runners. GE Corporation's runners wowed the crowd when they came dressed in fancy costumes, including replicas of turbines and windmills.
Nestle's team members were equally creative, dressed in Maggi mee packets and ice-cream cups. The cheerleaders kept the runners' spirits up by singing the slogans of their companies and playing drums.
HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd's head of human resource, Adrian Groom, who have taken part in the last three The Edge-Bursa Malaysia rat races, won the CEO race. "I run 40 to 50km a week around Taman TAR to keep fit. But at my age (51) I didn't expect to win," he said.
Total Sports Asia Ltd's group chief executive officer Marcus Luer came in second while Jon Kahn, vice-president of sales for Ericsson Malaysia Sdn Bhd, finished third.
In the main race, defending champion Ganesan Subramaniam of the RHB Group retained the title. "This is not a very competitive event, so it is very enjoyable," he said.
Total Sports Asia business development manager Stephan Geplik, who came in second, said he underwent two weeks of intensive training and was on fixed diet to prepare for the race. S Thayalan, an aircraft engineer with Malaysia Airlines, finished third.
In the women's category, IBM Malaysia Sdn Bhd global logistics executive Lesley Tan took the title. "I didn't expect to be first," she said. "It's great to know a lot of people here. I like running and doing charity for the company." Tan said this year's race was her first and she was considering to return next year.
Last year's winner in the women's category, Julia Goh from the CIMB Bhd, ended up second. Third-placed Noor Misbah, an administrative staff with Nestle Products Sdn Bhd, said the race was more of a warm-up for her as she usually runs 10km distances.
For the second year running, RHB reigned supreme in the team category as its teams grabbed the first and third places. MAS came in second.
At an appreciation dinner following the race, Bursa Malaysia chief executive officer Yusli Mohd Yusof urged corporate players to become corporate social responsibility champions for the less privileged in Malaysia. He said it was heartening to see the corporate top brass doing their bit for charity despite their busy schedules. "Each of us made the effort to run, even if it's just a few kilometres for charity," he said.
The Edge and theSun managing director and editor-in-chief Ho Kay Tat said the event's sponsors were aiming to raise over RM1 million again next year. For this year, a total of RM1 million was pledged before a special auction of two MAS airline business class tickets at the appreciation dinner raised the total to RM1.01 million.
The 12 charitable organisations chosen as beneficiaries are:
Desa Amal Jireh
Montfort Youth Centre
Persatuan Kebajikan Islam Terengganu (PERKASA)
Persatuan Pemulihan Orang Cacat Perak
Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Johor
Pertubuhan Perlindungan Kanak-Kanak Pulau Pinang
Pusat Hemodialisis Manjung
Sabah Association of Senior Citizens
Sai Ananda – Pusat Kerja-Kerja Amal Masyarakat
Yayasan Kajian dan Pembangunan Masyarakat
Yayasan Orang Kurang Upaya Kelantan
Yayasan Sunbeams Home
Dato' Nor Mohamed (left) with Ho (to his left) at the Rat Race 2006
Participants in the CEO's category starting the race
Defending champion, S Ganesan of RHB Group won the top prize again this year
First time participant Lesley Tan of IBM Malaysia Sdn Bhd emerged as the champion in the women's category
The Prudential Assurance Malaysia Bhd cheerleading team emerged as the champions in the cheerleader category
Members of RHB Bank Bhd teams at the Rat Race 2006
The cheerleading team from Telekom Malaysia
ASTRO's team at the Rat Race 2006
Nestle staff stretching their creativity by dressing up as a Maggi Mee packet and an ice cream cup for the race
General Electric International Inc staff in outfits representing the company's products
Finally, check this out...
I'll be back.... asta la vista baby... :)
2 comments:
Cepat! post gambo...
Hang pakai kebarung ka?
Column kanan ko.. dah naik dah.
Make sure text or graphic x oversize than column itself. Kalau tak jatuh kebawah after posting msg.
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