RUN IN DIVERSITY

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

CYCLE FOR CHANGE!

JERIT or Oppressed People's Movement organised a cycling campaign throughout the nation to put forward 6 demands to the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The Objectives

To increase awareness to the people on real problems and solutions

To increase awareness among the people to be environment friendly to save our dying earth

To popularise JERIT's main demands amongst the people

The Demand

>Enact Minimum Wage Act

>Abolish draconian laws such as the Internal Security Act (ISA)

>Adequate housingfor all

>Controlled and Affordable goods' price

>Revive local municipal council election

>Stop privatisation of public services such as water, hospitals and education.

The campaign officially began on 3 December 2008 in Kedah, the northen state of Malaysia. 50 cyclist have been flagged off and would cycle for 16 days throughout 4 states namely Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor. On 18 December 2008, they will arrived in Kuala Lumpur to hand over the memorandum to the Prime Minister in Parliment House.

The cyclists and volunteers will be leafleting in each stop to make known their demand and various activities also being put up in each state. Since lauching of the campaign, the cyclists and volunteers have been intimidated and faced with constant harrassment from the police to dampen their spirit. But the cyclists persevere!

On Dec 8, 2 bicycles were torched early in the morning. Among those detained by police were a Member of Parliment and leader of the campaign.

Dec 9, a bus load of participants and supporters were detained in Kuala Kangsar, Perak. Four campaign coordinators and the bus driver were detained. One of the female coordinator, Helen was sexually assaulted - breast grabbed and punched on the face.

Today, Dec 10 in conjunction with the 60th Anniversary celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Secretariat of JERIT will be submitting a memorandum to SUHAKAM (the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia), protesting the police intimidation and harrassment on the JERIT Cyclist Team.

Time : 12.00 noon

Venua : SUHAKAM office, Menara Tun Razak, Jalan Raja Laut, K.L. (Opposite DBKL Bldg)

All are invited to lend support. See you there!

The cyclist will be arriving in Kuala Lumpur and the highlight event will be the handing over memorandum to the Prime Minister at the Parliment. This event will be witnessed by approximately 1,000 people from the Coalition and partners in this campaign!

For more info on JERIT, log on to www.jerit.org

UDHR 60TH ANNIVERSARY

10 December 2008 - the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

I will stop running for a day and will dedicate today's column to recognise and honour a group of social activist for their unselfish act in bringing changes to many of us out there . People who forgo their hot meals and leave their comfort zone to spread the knowledge and empower the people of their rights!

I salute them all!

The following article is dedicated to JERIT and all the participants in the BICYCLE CAMPAIGN - CYCLE FOR CHANGE

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

RELAY WITHOUT BARRIER (RWB) 2008 - More Reporting

Organised By : 3R Circle

Director : Tan Choon Siang

Surveyor : Eddy Choo

Logistics : Peter Goh & R. Aplaidoo @ Naido

Venue : Taman Bukit Kiara

Date : 23 November 2008

Time : 7.30am

Type : 3 runners per team

Distant : 4km

This relay was the last event for 2008 and we decided to do a small one due to our hectic work schedule especially myself. I've been very involved in community work with the urban poor. But due to demand from our loyal followers, we decided to have a small event of not more than 30 teams for easy management as it involved a lot of planning and paper work on my part. TIME is what i DON'T have!

And so I emailed to a handful of the runners on my listing informing them three weeks prior to the race. It supposed to be on a first come first serve registration for maximum 30 teams. But, as expected, it always exceeded our target. I do not wish to let them down as this will be the last for 2008.

This relay, we had a few new comer who joined us for the first time. Mr. Inoue with his teams and students from the International Japanese School and another young team Sam Goh Noobs from Klang.

I am satisfied with the result and glad that majority enjoyed the run despite the simplicity. I hope to take this relay run to greater height next year.

I would like to express my appreciation to all runners who have been following the relays since late 2007. Thank you for your continuous support and look forward to see all of you in 2009! Thanks to all my partners Tan Choon Siang, Eddy Choo, Peter Goh, Naido and all volunteers namely Saliah, Philip Lim, Lim Yoke Foon, Haza, Steven See, Sunny and many others.

Also my appreciation and gratitude to Mr. Khoo Chong Beng of Champion Chips lending us the time chips. We hope this will set a new benchmark in our running industry.

I will not write long reporting but would let others judge our performance.

Team Sam Goh Noobs - a new comer to the event wrote:

It was a small yet challenging race. The 3.9km loop made me feel like it was a 10km run. There wasn't too many participants, around 80 people. However, it was a very successful relay run. And this run is very 'canggih' (hi-tech) also ........ The organiser included some electronis chips on the baton to record time. Phewww whit ...

Team Pacemakers Network #1 - a loyal follower

i was looking forward to today's relay for so long bcoz this is 1 of der best relay of der year! it was well organised, no confusions, this year was der 1st time they used timing chips binded with batons to record der timing. i would say it was fantastics! well done for 3R Circle ........

Haza - first time volunteer

Wow, for a race this small scale they were using the timing chips system, thanks to Mr. Khoo Chong Beng of Malaysian Race Walkers Association who lent the system. According to him this is the first time that chips were used in a relay!

................ it was a simple event but carried out with details ....

All photoa courtesy of pmtey.multiply.com

Mr. Khoo and his team setting up the Champion Chip System

Tying the chips onto the batons

The New Comer - Int'l Japanese School

Attending briefing..... every team must "take care' of this green card which act as a back up to the time chip and also as a way to get runners in the team to be proactive while waiting for their team mate to complete the race

this is the reason this park is a favorite with the locals and runners. . . . . hope the local authority will take good care of this park and sustain the greens

The Running Mom - first time volunteer with her two young faithful bodyguard . .

Mr. Khoo . . . . eeemmm I hope she didn't 'elope' with my Champion Chip

aHA!!! there she is . . paced by her partner. Yee Mey, the first time participant. Its OK, Mr Khoo. I just went for a short date with Mr. Champion Chip up the hill. It's really COOooool . . .

The FINAL Touch Down to signify the end of the relay to the standing ovation. Amazing that she managed to complete despite the extra miles as I told her that she only had to run 2km a week ago while trying to convince her . . . oooppps forgot to tell her my maths is actually very lousy . . hahahaaaaaaaa

Group photo

The Medal

Everyone went home a winner! Position medals for all who complete the race!!! Except poor ME with the timer hanging on my neck till the next RACE!!!

THANK YOU AND SEE U ALL NEXT YEAR!!!!!