Sarawak ready to shatter world retro walk record

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KUCHING: Sarawak is confident of smashing the Guinness World Record for the largest number of retro walk participants, which is currently held by Germany with 1,507 participants.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Urban Areas) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the response to the retro walk to be held in conjunction with the Youth Carnival 2014 has been overwhelming.

“Thus far, we have over 2,000 on record for the retro walk on Oct 11 and we hope to see the record being broken by Malaysia, particularly by Sarawakians,” he told a news conference yesterday.

The Guinness World Record was previously held by China with 1,039 participants.

On Oct 11, more than 2,000 youths and individuals of all ages are expected to gather at Grand Margherita Hotel at 7.30am for the 1km retro walk.

Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Talib Zulpilip is scheduled to launch the event.

Karim said the retro walk would be one of the major events for the week-long carnival themed ‘You Are The 1’ to take place at Padang Merdeka from Monday to the following Sunday (Oct 6-12).

Some 500 youths representing Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Technology College Sarawak, Swinburne University, Segi College Sarawak, iCATS, Sunway College Kuching, Masterskill Global College and Limkokwing University as well as NGOs are expected at the opening on Monday.

“The launching at Padang Merdeka will be performed by myself at 8pm. Before that, there will be buskers and Zumba performances.”

On Tuesday, Unimas, Technology College Sarawak, Swinburne University and Segi College Sarawak students will stage a series of performances.

On Wednesday, Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Toh Puan Ragad Kurdi Taib are scheduled to attend the Unimas Cultural Night.

“This is the most important date for this programme as our governor has agreed to come over to attend the Unimas Cultural Night. It will be free and easy for the night because we don’t want it to be too rigid,” said Karim.

Students of iCATS, Sunway College Kuching and Masterskill Global College are expected to perform on Thursday.

A day later, 14 semi-finalists will compete to book a place in the finale for the One Sarawak Youth Band Challenge on Oct 12, when the closing ceremony and prize presentations will be held.

“Out of the 14, six will enter the final. The 14 were short-listed in auditions held a month earlier in Miri, Sarikei, Sri Aman and Kuching. For the closing ceremony, we expect a more than 1,000 crowd because of the band challenge. Quite a number of youth organisations have been invited but we believe many will come without the need to be invited.”

Karim said 72 booths would be set up at Padang Merdeka to offer information on to government agencies, NGOs, tertiary institutions and young entrepreneurs.

“All the 72 booths are fully taken up, so there will be a lot happening at Padang Merdeka while lots of gifts will be handed out by booth operators and lucky draws to be held.”