Abdul Karim (9th left) hands over prizes to Mohd Faisal Izzudin Ahmad Joyo from ICC Club who won the Closed category (for Sarawak residents only).
KOTA SAMARAHAN: The 6th edition of Samarahan Bike Challenge(SBC) was a success when about 80 cyclists from Sarawak, West Malaysia and Indonesia participated in the race which was flagged off by the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah here yesterday.
SBC, which started in 2013 with a small group of cyclists, has grown to become a household name in the Sarawak cycling calendar.
From next year onwards, it will no longer be organised by the government agency in Samarahan District but by local cycling associations or clubs.
Abdul Karim, speaking at the event yesterday, said this type of event is very important to promote cycling sports among the people here and, at the same time, promote Samarahan Division as a tourism destination.
“Samarahan in the 1980s was not like what you see now, and not many know where Samarahan is but when the development started in 1980s and was given a face lift and upgraded to a division, this constituency has seen so much development including development of residential areas, shopping malls and also education centres until Samarahan is call an education hub now,” said Abdul Karim at the closing ceremony at Summer Mall here yesterday.
Meanwhile, on the absence of the Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) and Information Department at the event, Abdul Karim who is also the Asajaya Assemblyman again voiced out his disappointment.
“I have been saying this over and again, I don’t see RTM and Information Department here, maybe to its Minister and the RTM director here, whatever we are doing to develop sports that unite the people is not worth to be given a publicity.
“They do not have to take my picture or report about me but at least do something for the sports and the community leaders. However, I salute the police and the Medical Department because they know where they stand and follow the local culture here.
“For RTM and Information Department, they are playing politics, this is not a political programme. They must be above board, because RTM belongs to the people of Malaysia and we are all Malaysians, just not for Gobind (the Minister)and Pakatan Harapan (PH) only,” he said.
Yesterday’s event themed #Till the Last Ride saw categories for Under 15, Junior 18 and below (36km), Women’s category (18km), Master 50 and above (24km), Veteran All Star (40 years old and above with a distance of 36km), Closed category (for Sarawak residents only with a distance of 54km) and Elite Open (54km).
Among those present were Kota Samarahan MP Rubiah Wang, Simunjan state assemblyman Awla Idris and Samarahan Resident Ibrahim Lumpu.