MALAYSIANS from all walks of life came together at Taman Rimba Kiara in Kuala Lumpur in an event fostering a sense of unity and promoting healthier lifestyles.
“National Sports Day – Jom Gerak” marking both National Sports Day and World Osteoporosis Day had a variety of activities for visitors as well as stations for health checks.
The event, launched by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, began with a 3km morning walk that brought together families and individuals from various backgrounds.
One of the main activities was promoting healthy living through aerobic exercises, with a session led by trained instructors drawing many participants.
Sponsors such as Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara set up health check stations providing services such as blood pressure monitoring, glucose level tests and body mass index assessments.
Medical experts from Bone Health Alliance Malaysia (BHAM) engaged and educated community members, particularly seniors, on the importance of bone health.
Free bone health risk assessment was also available to the event’s attendees.
“Even though National Sports Day is an annual celebration, we aim to foster a culture where Malaysians engage in sports regularly to maintain good health,” said Yeoh.
“With over 103 gazetted sports, everyone in society has a sport that suits them.
“And the government’s tax relief of up to RM1,000 for equipment and coaching is a great opportunity to cultivate this healthy lifestyle,” she said.
“If every Malaysian stays physically active, we can redirect more of our budget towards building better facilities and creating more opportunities for growth.
“Currently, a significant portion of the budget is spent on treating health issues that could have been prevented with regular exercise.
“To reduce these costs in the long term, we need a healthier, more active population,” Yeoh emphasised.
The event was jointly organised by Feminine magazine, Youth and Sports Ministry, the Segambut Member of Parliament Office, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Komuniti Madani and Friends of Bukit Kiara.
Non-governmental organisations supporting the event included BHAM and Diabetes Malaysia.
The event was part of the National Sports Day celebration taking place nationwide where over 30,000 participants engaged in 64 different activities.
