GEORGE TOWN: Tears welled up in her eyes as Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif delivered a speech at probably one of her last few official events as the Penang Island City Council mayor.
Maimunah is set to step down as the council’s mayor soon.
“I feel a little emotional to be here,” said Maimunah at the launching of streamers of Asia Pacific Masters Games (APMG) Penang 2018 in Komtar yesterday.
She was quick to regain her composure half-way through the speech, but with tears in her eyes.
“The state has a good track record as a gracious host. This is the first time a multi-sports Masters Games event will be held in Asia.
“There are so many firsts in Penang and we should be proud of them,” she said, adding that she hoped to attend the event from Sept 7 to 15.
Approached by The Star later, Maimunah said she would step down as council’s mayor some time this month, but declined to elaborate further.
Maimunah will take up the post of executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and has pledged to do her best on the international front.
She will be the first woman in Asia to be appointed to the post, replacing former Barcelona mayor Joan Clos.
She was nominated by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and received unanimous support at the UN General Assembly in New York recently.
UN-Habitat is a United Nations programme working towards a better urban future.
Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.
At the event, Maimunah also unveiled streamers of 21 sports meant for the multi-sports event which was opened to all aged 30 and above.
About 5,000 participants are expected to take part in the event, featuring sports such as archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, cycling, dancesport, football and hockey.
Also present at the launch were council secretary Yew Tung Seang and APMG chief executive officer Linda Geh.
For more information on the games and events contested, visit www.apmg2018.com.
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