 At
5pm today, look out for the familiar sight of people in their office wear, and
some eye-catching costumes, racing through the main business district of Kuala
Lumpur.
It’s the return of The Edge-Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Rat Race, which runs
into its eighth edition this year.
This year’s event has set another new record with the participation of 116 teams
of five runners each from 71 local and foreign, private and public-listed
companies. Together with six other companies who have chosen to make goodwill
contributions to the fund, a total of RM1,551,000 has been raised.
The entire proceeds will be channeled towards twenty charitable organizations in
the country, namely:
- Protect and Save the Children Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur (P. S. The Children)
- Rumah Keluarga Kami (Yayasan Ozanam)
- Rumah Kanak-kanak, Taiping
- Eden Handicap Service Centre Berhad
- Perpikat (Association for Concerned Citizens and Parents of Handicapped Children, Bintulu)
- Pusat Harian Kanak-Kanak Spastik
- Persatuan Dialisis Touch, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
- Malaysian Nature Society
- Miriam Home For The Aged
- Persatuan Kebajikan HOPE Worldwide, Kuala Lumpur
- Yayasan Kajian dan Pembangunan Masyarakat (YKPM)
- Women's Centre for Change, Penang
- Rumah Victory
- Persatuan Damai Orang-Orang Kurang Upaya Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan
- Persatuan Kebajikan Kampung Sungai Lui, Hulu Langat
- Pusat Jagaan Anak-Anak Yatim dan Miskin Nurul Iman
- Pertubuhan Kanak-Kanak Kanser Malaysia
- Pertubuhan Kanak-Kanak Insan Istimewa Cemerlang
- Environmental Protection Society Malaysia
- Shepherd's Centre Foundation
“The incredible response and support speaks volumes for Corporate Malaysia
and Malaysians in general. Many organizations have been very supportive,
repeating their participation year after year,” said Mr Ho Kay Tat, group
managing director and editor-in-chief of The Edge and theSun.
“At the core of Bursa Malaysia remains our founding philosophy of contributing
to society through our activities. Which is why, we believe some of our finest
achievements aren’t those found in our balance sheets but those, in small towns
and villages spread across Malaysia. We are increasingly proud of the work we do
with charities every year with The Edge through the Kuala Lumpur Rat Race,” said
Dato' Yusli Mohamed Yusoff, Chief Executive Officer of Bursa Malaysia Berhad.
This year's event will also be the first “green” Rat Race, where issues of
climate change will be given due importance by ensuring that environmentally
friendly initiatives are put
in place where possible throughout the event to make it a clean one.
These include holding the traditional post-race dinner outdoors instead of
indoors, which reduces the use of air-conditioning and electricity. Pollution
and carbon dioxide emissions from transportation for people to the event will be
considered and measures taken to minimize the effects. Other measures include
using recyclable crockery and culinary instead of plastic and Styrofoam.
The run will kick-off with the 1km CEO Race, where 49 captains of industry will
be taking part. This will be followed by the 4.5km main race. Both start from
the grounds of Bursa Malaysia, which will also be the finishing point of the
Race.
Deputy Minister of Finance I, Yang Berhormat Dato' Dr Ng Yen Yen, will be on
hand to flag-off the CEO race.
Awards will be presented to the company that sent in the most number of teams,
the three fastest teams, the top three male and female runners and the top three
male and female CEOs from the 1km CEO Race. A challenge trophy awaits the team
that clocks in the fastest aggregate time.
As participants will be running in their office attire and carrying other
‘executive’ gadgets like mobile phones, PDAs, briefcases and notebooks, or even
dressed in costumes relevant to their nature of business, there will also be
prizes for the three best dressed teams and the best dressed CEO. There will
also be awards recognizing the three best cheerleading squads, and the most
senior runner.
Modeled after the Carey Wall Street Rat Race in New York, the Kuala Lumpur Rat
Race idea draws from the realization that besides getting caught in the
proverbial rat race to climb the corporate ladder of success, executives and
corporations need to fulfill their corporate social responsibilities. This
annual event provides the platform for that and is gaining more recognition from
Corporate Malaysia. This is also an event where workers from different companies
and industries get together and let their hair down for a day.
Donations collected are channeled towards selected beneficiaries involved in
various causes. The substantial increase in the funds collected proves the Rat
Race to be a hit among corporations who want to do their part in the community.
A total of over RM4.3 million has been channeled to 50 charitable organizations
since the race’s debut seven years ago.
Last year’s proceeds hit the million ringgit mark for the first time when 75
companies helped raise RM1,025,000 to benefit twelve beneficiaries.
The Edge-Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Rat Race is organized by The Edge and Bursa
Malaysia, and supported by Yayasan Bursa Malaysia. The Federal Territory Amateur
Athletic Association (FTAAA) provides technical support.
Official sponsors for the event are Coca-Cola Malaysia, theSun, Astro, and Lite
FM. Moves & Shakes Sdn Bhd is the event manager.
Source: Bursa Malaysia Berhad
Date: August 7, 2007
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