KUNAK: A total of 149 participants participated in the Madai Nature Fun Run Trail 6km event which was held for the first time at the Sejadi Pusat Madai Baturong Forest Reserve, recently.
Officiating the programme, Kunak Assemblywoman Datuk Norazlinah Arif said the programme’s first run was well received by many including participants from outside the district.
“The programme received a very encouraging response with the participation from various age groups.
Of course, there is close cooperation and mutual assistance between the agencies involved, especially the Sabah Forestry Department and also the operator of Pusat Sejadi Madai, which is the Tourism Community Cooperative and Kebudayaan Madai Berhad (Kokom).
“This proves that the programme opens up a wider space for the tourism industry in the district, which is well-known not only in Sabah, but throughout Malaysia and abroad,” she said.
The Fun Run Trail was held to foster the spirit of goodwill and community awareness on the natural beauty found in the forest reserve. In the running event, participants go through a track and experience the forest filled various types of flora in addition to the sound of birds around the trail.
Norazlinah said that approval for the event was obtained from relevant parties and agencies for the construction of a canopy walkway in the Sejadi Madai Centre for the convenience of visitors and tourists.
“As I have informed the Kokom management, we obtained approval of RM250,000 for the canopy walk,” she said.
In the meantime, she also approved to build a guard hut in the area near the creek where it is frequented by visitors, through the Assemblyman’s fund.
For the men’s open category, the fun run event was won by Abdul Shalwee, the women’s by Nur Tania Allin Suhardi.
Ali Hussin won the veteran male category, while Rusminah Baji won the veteran female category.
