Around 1,000 people join in awareness race

KOTA KINABALU: Around 1,000 people participated in the 2017 Shark Runner organised by Junior Chamber International (JCI) to raise awareness on the negative impact of hunting for shark fins.

JCI President, Lenny Yap said that the run is part of their campaign to stop cruelty towards sharks. It was the first run of its kind in Malaysia where were participants dressed with “shark fins” and being hunted along the route.

“For the first time participants will able to experience the dreadful feeling of sharks being hunted by fisherman, and at the same time, to instill awareness to protect the shark population,” she said.

“Sharks play a crucial role in maintaining the marine food chain and prey population and without them, the existing marine ecosystem will be unbalanced.”

A number of activities have been implemented by JCI to spread and instill greater awareness among locals to refrain from consuming shark fin soup and stop shark hunting.

Among them was “Say No to Shark Fin Soup” (SNTSFS) Drawing and Coloring Contest.

The run was officiated by Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) City Environmental Health Department director Robert Lipon who represented Mayor, Datuk Yeo Boon Hai.

The awareness run was organized by JCI Tanjung Aru with the collaboration of Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI), Grab Car and Sabah Amateur Radio Society (SARS). The 5.3km run was held at Tanjung Lipat, here.

The event also saw various activities such as lucky draw, shark walk and Judging of Best Costume, Zumba session, and a magic show.

Source : New Sabah Times