Najib: Sports the best way to unite Malaysians

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17 KUALA LUMPUR- Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak(filepic) attends the launch of design concept for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) station, at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) at 1030 (0230 GMT) PUTRAJAYA- Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi chairs Malaysian Halal Council meeting, at ICU Conference Hall, Level 1, East Block, Perdana Putra Building, Putrajaya at 1015 (0215 GMT) KUALA LUMPUR- Top Glove Corporation Bhd media briefing on 2017 financial results, Top Glove Tower, Grand Ballroom 1, Level 9, Persiaran Setia Dagang, Setia Alam, Seksyen U13, Shah Alam, Selangor at 1030 (0230 GMT)

KUALA LUMPUR: Sports is the best way to unite Malaysia's different ethnic groups, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic).

Using the National Sports Day as an example, the Prime Minister said 7.6 million people had participated in the celebrations last year proving that sports can instil solidarity.

"This is proof of how sports can bring us closer together and that it transcends political boundaries," he said in his speech on Saturday before launching the National Sports Day at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Among those present at the event was Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

The Prime Minister said obesity was one of the main health concerns afflicting the people because Malaysians love food.

"We love roti canai, nasi lemak, teh tarik. We do not like sports. We must learn to love sports. Do not have too much fat in our bodies," he said.

Najib said he was also proud that the younger generation was always involved in sports and that this augured well for the country as young people would lead Malaysia into the future.

The National Sports Day celebrations are held on the second Saturday of October as an initiative towards making Malaysia a sporting nation.