KUALA LUMPUR: MCA Youth’s 11th and final “From Legacy to Leadership” run on Sunday (Dec 21), put the spotlight on empowering young Malaysians to take charge of their future.
During the opening ceremony, MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the event was not merely a sporting activity but a statement of intent by youths to shape their own path forward.
“Running may look simple, but it sends a very clear message – to move forward.
“No standing still, going in circles or turning back,” he said when met at Wisma MCA Sunday.
He noted that the Youth Run represented a conscious choice to shape the future rather than wait passively for change.
Dr Mah said Malaysia had never lacked opportunities, noting that the country was once seen as a potential “fifth Asian tiger” alongside Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, but had lost momentum in recent years.
“Policies keep changing, taxes keep rising, judicial independence is questioned and slogans are loud, but direction and real reform are missing,” he said, adding that the fallout was being felt most acutely by the youth.
Dr Mah stressed that MCA Youth heavily supports a culture that is “healthy, orderly, rational and forward-looking” instead of one that treats young people as political tools.
“Young people should no longer wait to be directed. They must step forward, participate and fight for their own future,” he said, adding that the nation’s future must be built “step-by-step”.
“The small step you run today is a big step for Malaysia’s tomorrow,” he added.
MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng said the run was about reconnecting with young people and understanding their struggles, particularly in Kuala Lumpur.
“It is important for us to communicate more with young Malaysians, get to know them and discuss more with them.
“This is how we can raise the voice of the youth,” he said.
He said MCA Youth aimed to go beyond rhetoric by offering solutions to urban challenges such as economic pressures, water supply and traffic congestion, to be addressed in the short, medium and long term.
MCA Youth chief Ling Tian Soon said the Kuala Lumpur run marked a symbolic return home after months on the road, having covered 10 states since the first stop in Melaka on June 29.
Held on the Winter Solstice, the event also carried symbolic meaning.
“With over 1,500 participants present, it symbolises reunion. We hope that in the future, we can continue to reunite, and our mission and spirit can be passed down,” he added.
MCA Youth deputy chief Mike Chong Yew Chuan thanked participants for their support, noting that the Kuala Lumpur run concluded a journey that had spanned 11 locations nationwide.
“We still have many activities to come in the future and we hope to see everyone again soon,” he said.
