Sarawak Biodiversity Centre

Members of Civil Service Urged to Participate in MAKSAK Health Runs

Members of the civil service are urged to participate in health runs organized by the Sarawak Government Services Welfare and Recreation Council (MAKSAK).

State Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani believes that the health runs provide an opportunity for members of the civil service from different federal and state ministries, departments and agencies mingle and get to know one another, exchange news and ideas, and subsequently enhance the spirit of working together.

Speaking at the first health run for the year organised by the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) and MAKSAK on Saturday, Morshidi, who is the chairman of MAKSAK, stresses that such health runs encourage members of the civil service to exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle.

In his brief address to the participants of the SBC-MAKSAK Health Run, Morshidi, who is also the Chairman of the Sarawak Biodiversity Council that oversees SBC, expressed hope of seeing even more participation from members of the civil service, particularly from among the heads of departments and their assistants, in future runs.

The health runs are organised monthly and different departments and agencies take turns co-organising the run with MAKSAK.

In the SBC-MAKSAK Health run, 400 participants from 38 state and federal ministries, departments and agencies in Kuching, braved slightly overcast skies and a light drizzle to run from SBC to the Semengoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and back.

Six categories were contested; Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Men’s Veteran (45 years and above), Women’s Veterans (45 years and above), Men’s VIP and Women’s VIP.

In the Men’s Open, runners from the Fire and Rescue Services (Bomba) clinched seven out of the top ten placings in the category. Bomba officer, David Ritikos walked away with the first prize which consisted of a medal and an electric oven.

In the Women’s Open, seasoned runner, Tan Sii Eng of BERNAS took first place, while equally seasoned runners Junaidi Abang (Housing Development Corp) and May Lai (BERNAS) secured first placing in the Men’s Veteran and Women’s Veteran categories respectively.

Meanwhile, Hamad bin Seman (Jabatan Penjara) and Associate Professor Dr Margaret Chan (UiTM) walked away with attractive prizes when they came in first in the Men’s VIP and Women’s VIP categories respectively.

Morshidi’s wife, Datin Amar Hajah Saptuyah Shuib, the directors of Bomba, Prison Department, and senior officers from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism, and the Natural Resources and Environment Board also participated in the VIP categories.

The Sarawak Biodiversity Centre was awarded the MAKSAK Trophy for having the highest number of participants (83 runners).

Morshidi and his wife also pledged two other trophies for upcoming runs for teams with the most number of men and women.

The SBC-MAKSAK run was themed “Running in Nature” as the route for the run took participants from SBC, to the Botanical Research Centre and the Semengoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.

• Datuk Amar Morshidi, his wife and the participants are seen here warming up before the run. Datuk Amar Morshidi, his wife and the participants are seen here warming up before the run.
• A segment of the participants during the aerobics session. A segment of the participants during the aerobics session.
• Datuk Amar Morshidi lets off the runners in the Men’s Open Category. Datuk Amar Morshidi lets off the runners in the Men’s Open Category.
• Tan Sii Eng of BERNAS receives her prize from Datin Amar Saptuyah after coming in 1st in the Women’s Open Category. Tan Sii Eng of BERNAS receives her prize from Datin Amar Saptuyah after coming in 1st in the Women’s Open Category.
• Fire and Rescue Personnel, David Ritikos receives his prize from Morshidi. Fire and Rescue Personnel, David Ritikos receives his prize from Morshidi.
• CEO of Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC), Dr Rita Manurung is presented the MAKSAK Trophy by Morshidi. SBC had the highest turnout of participants during the run. CEO of Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC), Dr Rita Manurung is presented the MAKSAK Trophy by Morshidi. SBC had the highest turnout of participants during the run.
• One for the album, Staff of the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre take a moment for a group shot with their Chairman. One for the album, Staff of the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre take a moment for a group shot with their Chairman.
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