Merdeka Fun Run celebrates cultural unity in style
Participants arrived to take part in the Merdeka Fun Run 2025 held in conjunction with the celebration of the 68th National Day.
Organised by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the event also featured a cultural parade with Asean delegates.
Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said besides encouraging a healthy lifestyle, the programme was also aimed at showcasing unity and cultural diversity in Malaysia and South-East Asia.
'Seeing people of all backgrounds come together is a reminder of the significance of urban areas, which is to serve as a shared space for communities.
'Dressed in various traditional wear such as baju kurung, kebaya and batik, the parade underscores our diversity which is a cause for celebration,' she said.
Accompanied by representatives and diplomats from various embassies, she flagged off the participants at around 7am before taking a group stroll to a nearby shopping centre.
The event was made merrier by various cultural performances by the DBKL Culture, Arts and Sports Department.
DBKL said the programme was a prelude to three Asean-related dialogues slated to take place from Aug 12 to 14.
The KL Car-Free Morning initiative takes place every Sunday, from 7am to 9am.
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The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Merdeka Fun Run celebrates cultural unity in style
KUALA LUMPUR: Hundreds turned up in traditional wear at the KL-Car Free Morning yesterday, injecting vibrant colours and bringing much fanfare to the normally busy Jalan Raja Laut. Participants arrived to take part in the Merdeka Fun Run 2025 held in conjunction with the celebration of the 68th National Day. Organised by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the event also featured a cultural parade with Asean delegates. Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said besides encouraging a healthy lifestyle, the programme was also aimed at showcasing unity and cultural diversity in Malaysia and South-East Asia. 'Seeing people of all backgrounds come together is a reminder of the significance of urban areas, which is to serve as a shared space for communities. 'Dressed in various traditional wear such as baju kurung, kebaya and batik, the parade underscores our diversity which is a cause for celebration,' she said. Accompanied by representatives and diplomats from various embassies, she flagged off the participants at around 7am before taking a group stroll to a nearby shopping centre. The event was made merrier by various cultural performances by the DBKL Culture, Arts and Sports Department. DBKL said the programme was a prelude to three Asean-related dialogues slated to take place from Aug 12 to 14. The KL Car-Free Morning initiative takes place every Sunday, from 7am to 9am.
The Star
04-06-2025
- The Star
This deadly and addictive habit is hard to quit
Quitting smoking isn't easy. Some try and repeatedly fail, while others enjoy it too much to want to kick the habit. Most keep smoking because they get addicted to nicotine, one of the chemicals in cigarettes and other tobacco products. According to a study published May 28 (2025) in The Lancet Public Health journal, Asean nations are seeing double-digit increases in some of the leading causes of death and disability, and that includes smoking. Researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in the United States and the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine analysed the data from 1990 to 2021 by age, sex and location across the 10 Asean countries. Among their findings: The number of smokers has increased in every Asean country by 63% to 137 million regionally, which is 12% of the total number of global smokers. Smoking prevalence has declined in the region, but remains high at 48% among males aged 15 and older. An estimated one in five male children aged 10 to 14 are currently smoking in Malaysia. In 2021, more than half a million people in the region died from smoking-related diseases – an increase of 231,000 deaths from 1990, with men dying at a rate 10 times higher than women. The region's highest number of smoking-related deaths was from ischaemic heart disease, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The reality is that the majority of smokers do indeed want to quit, but despite all the resources out there, are not sure how. Scan for help As one of the partners of the Health Ministry's JomQuit programme, the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) receives between 300 and 500 applicants weekly – a huge number. To register, all a smoker needs to do is scan a QR code from the JomQuit posters put up in public places. 'We started our programme in December last year [2024] to offer six sessions of online consultations for those who want to quit. 'When they register, our doctors give them a call, find out more about their occupation, lifestyle, budget, etc, and provide behavioural counselling. 'Many participants do not pick up our calls although they have applied, which is a problem,' says NCSM's medical officer and health promotion lead Dr G. Leevyadhashiny. The point of the call is to get individuals to understand why they need to quit smoking. For the younger ones, most started because of peer pressure. Dr Leevyadhashiny says: 'For the long-term smokers, it's habitual and they're so used to having a cigarette in hand that it is difficult to quit. 'We counsel them on how to overcome this, and surprisingly, many do not know about nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or that they can walk into any government clinic and sign up for the free quit-smoking programme.' She adds: 'If in a day, I call 10 people, eight would've tried to quit before by going cold turkey, not through NRT. 'Cold turkey is difficult because it takes time for the body to acclimatise removing nicotine from the system. 'Plus, one can be easily influenced again by peer pressure. 'Many also think NRT is lifelong and this is not necessarily true.' ALSO READ: Helping smokers wean off that nicotine addiction when they decide to quit NCSM hasn't run the programme long enough to gather conclusive statistics, but Dr Leevyadhashiny reckons the quit rate is about 40%. 'So far, I haven't been able to get further than the second consultation, but at least, there is greater awareness on the programme and it gives smokers an opportunity to clear whatever doubts they have,' she says. The quitting prognosis for younger smokers is better as they haven't indulged in the activity for too long, but of course, the best thing is not to start smoking at all. Tried and tried again Looking at the glowing Naveen Ahmad, 58, you'd never guess she was once a chain smoker – for 27 years! After 27 years of smoking and many failed quit attempts, Naveen listened to her inner voice and finally managed to kick the habit in 2018. — NAVEEN AHMAD Although the Penangite's father was a smoker, Naveen was not influenced by him. In fact, as a curious teenager, she once snuck a quick puff on a leftover cigarette when he asked her to empty the ashtray, and she hated the taste. She couldn't understand how her dad and his friends could inhale that awful smell. All that changed when she moved to Kuala Lumpur in her early 20s. It was the era of discos and parties, when it was considered cool to light up a cigarette. 'Smoking was widely accepted and you could do it anywhere back then. 'I remember I was with a friend and she offered me a stick to share, saying it wouldn't do any harm. 'One shared stick a night became one whole stick, two sticks, and many outings later, I was buying my own cigarettes. 'My colleagues were also smoking and we looked forward to taking breaks at the staircase,' recalls the then sales manager. Since many of her clients also smoked, it proved to be an apt icebreaker. She shares: 'I got to know clients better over cigarettes; we bonded and became buddies overnight. And I'd win the pitch!' Naveen was smoking half a pack daily, but if she partied, which was quite frequent, it became one pack. This went on for a few years until she and a colleague decided to challenge each other to quit. 'We quit cold turkey, changed our lifestyle, lessened our partying and started going to the gym. 'For two years, I felt good, but she started cheating while I was 'clean'. "That's when I counselled her and told her it was okay. 'She asked me to share a stick with her, and initially, I said no, but after much coaxing, I took the stick. 'I felt guilty, but didn't really care as I was fit, young and thought I was invincible,' she shares. Her colleagues began to gather every Friday night at a chosen nightspot and these two women looked forward to it as they could smoke. She says: 'I never stopped until I got pregnant. 'That's when I started to hate the smell of cigarettes and would be nauseated if anyone smoked. 'After my daughter was born, we were at a gathering and one 'devil' asked how come I hadn't started smoking again after confinement. "'Come on, join me la' ... and that was how I restarted again in 2004.' Pretty soon, Naveen was smoking up to two packs a day. She confesses: 'I smoked when I was excited, stressed and when I needed to think. I found great joy in it so I indulged. 'When I returned home, I'd still work, and to generate new ideas, I'd light up a cigarette on the balcony, not inside the house. 'My ex-husband was also a smoker, but he had quit by then and urged me to do the same. 'He'd share his NRT gum, but it tasted horrible and though I tried to quit many times over the decade, all my attempts failed. 'I told myself I'd quit when I felt ready and there was no need to stress over it.' A parched throat, bad cough, breathlessness and fatigue were part of her daily life, but she ignored these symptoms. In 2018, when she was 51, Naveen decided to take a career break and looked hard in the mirror. She didn't like the reflection. 'Eeuw, I spoke to the mirror – your skin is dark, your lips are like dried prunes, you look haggard and aged. 'I was also transitioning through menopause and a voice told me I had to quit no matter what. "But I was afraid of gaining weight. 'On Dec 30, 2018, I smoked my last pack of cigarettes, then lit up and smoked all the unfinished sticks in my ashtray till they became ash – my one final joy. 'I decided to go cold turkey because I was confident I didn't need professional help,' she says. The withdrawal symptoms were severe for a month – insomnia, anxiety, irritability, etc – but she never turned back. She gained 2kg, but Naveen attributes this to menopause. Temptations dangled, but she stood firm against them. Today, the product head of an information technology company is constantly being complimented for her glowing skin and youthful appearance. Now, when she is trying to come up with earth-shattering ideas, she no longer needs a cigarette. 'Artificial intelligence does it for me!' Naveen says, laughing. An alluring addiction On the other hand, Owen S (not his real name) has been smoking for almost 50 years and refuses to call it quits despite being fully aware of the dangers. The Health Ministry's latest poster encourages smokers to seek help by scanning the QR code to register themselves for online counselling. — Health Ministry His initiation into smoking began out of curiosity, camaraderie and a dash of rebellion at the age of 13, when his family was living in small-town Kulai, Johor. 'That first brush with tobacco, however, didn't take. 'My older brother caught me and promptly reported it to our mother, who responded swiftly and sternly, and it was enough to keep me away from cigarettes until I was about 17,' recalls the retired academician in his 60s. Although Owen's father, a former policeman, gave up smoking in his 40s to discourage his kids from following suit, all five of his sons picked up the habit. 'My four children harass me to quit. "They try to reason with love and science, and they are not wrong – every statistic is stacked against me and every cigarette is a gamble,' he says. Like many smokers who prefer to turn a blind eye to the disease statistics, he justifies his continued habit by noting no one in his smoking circle has died of respiratory ailments or lung cancer. His further reasoning is: 'You've got to understand the smoking styles out there. 'Some will smoke until the very end of the stick, but I throw it away after I'm two-thirds in. 'Other smokers will inhale as if it's their last breath, but I don't inhale as deeply so the smoke is mostly in my mouth, although it does get into my throat and lungs sometimes. 'And I'm always drinking water or a non-alcoholic beverage while I'm smoking so I don't have a smoker's cough.' It's important to note, however, that his smoking style does not in any way decrease his risk of the multiple diseases associated with smoking, including various cancers, respiratory diseases, heart disease and dental problems, among others. Owen, who now lives in Penang, spends roughly RM50 a day to feed his habit as he prefers one of the more established brands. ALSO READ: Reason to quit smoking: It's getting too pricey '[The rituals of smoking have] punctuated the best and worst days of my life, and in some strange way, smoking has been my constant companion,' he says, highlighting how insidiously smoking can intertwin itself into a person's life. 'Yes, it's a form of addiction and smoking is a choice I've made and I'm not ready to give it up. 'However, I do advise younger people not to pick up the habit,' he says. Those seeking assistance to quit smoking or vaping can refer to the official JomQuit portal or WhatsApp 010-3505199.
Rakyat Post
16-05-2025
- Rakyat Post
This Temple Near KLCC Gives Out Free Vegetarian Lunch Twice A Week – And It's Delicious
Subscribe to our FREE Tucked just a short stroll away from the bustling Suria KLCC shopping mall, amidst the city's concrete towers and honking traffic, lies a serene oasis serving more than just spiritual peace. The Dharma Realm Guan Yin Monastery in Kuala Lumpur is quietly drawing crowds – not just for prayers, but for lunch. Every Friday and Sunday, from 11am to 2pm, the temple's canteen offers free vegetarian meals to anyone who walks in. Yes, free – no questions asked, no strings attached. All they ask is for diners to help themselves, and clean up after. Image: TRP The setup is simple and humble: long, stainless steel tables and benches that feel more school canteen than fancy food court – but that doesn't stop the lunchtime throng. Office workers, curious tourists, and even regular KL-ites queue up for a taste of something rare in this city – a meal that's wholesome, meatless, and costs absolutely nothing on certain days. The food? Surprisingly varied and flavourful. It's a buffet-style spread featuring dishes like stir-fried cabbage, bok choy, okra, and other seasonal greens – all cooked in light, healthy styles. Standouts include the temple's vegetarian char siew (so convincing it might fool a few meat lovers), curry vegetables, and even savoury marmite potatoes. And unlike your typical mamak restaurant, everything is cooked with less oil and salt, in line with the monastery's philosophy of mindful and healthy eating. Image: TRP On regular days (when meals aren't free), you can still eat here for a very wallet-friendly RM9 to RM11, depending on what ends up on your plate – still cheaper than most food courts or hawker stalls in the area. It's also fully self-service, so don't expect waiters or table numbers. Grab a plate, help yourself, enjoy your meal, and remember to clear your table afterward. Bins are provided for leftover food, and volunteers handle the washing up – a small but important act of communal respect. Image: TRP Image: TRP While many may stumble upon the canteen through word of mouth or a friend's recommendation, the Dharma Realm Guan Yin Monastery has long been a spiritual pillar in the city. Established in the Image: So if you're in the city on a Friday or Sunday and feel like skipping the KLCC food court crowd, swing by this spot instead. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
