Lace Up Your Shoes – HSN21KM Comes to You!: Iconic event to be held on 8 October 2016 in conjunction with Hari Sukan Negara

PUTRAJAYA, 29 August 2016 – Runners can find themselves alongside fellow Malaysians and international running enthusiasts in the spirit of fitness and fun at the inaugural HSN21KM run set to take place on 8 October 2016. The official launch of HSN21KM – the marquee event at this year’s Hari Sukan Negara celebration, was officiated today by the Minister of Youth and Sports, YB Khairy Jamaluddin together with the President of Muse Group Asia, Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin. Muse Group Asia is the organiser and originator of the event.

“I commend this initiative by renowned event organiser Muse Group Asia and the Ministry is pleased to support HSN21KM. It is good to see the private sector coming forward to support the Hari Sukan Negara which is our national agenda in creating a sporting nation. Through HSN21KM and Hari Sukan Negara, we want to further ignite and strengthen the desire to keep fit and be healthy among all Malaysians. I am confident HSN21KM will receive good response from the public, based on the overwhelming support at last year’s Hari Sukan Negara activities. By encouraging the organisation of sporting events like HSN21KM, we also hope to discover new sporting talents,” said YB Khairy. This is the second year Hari Sukan Negara is being held, after the inaugural celebration in 2015.

(L-R) Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin,​ President, ​Muse Group Asia​; YB Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia​

Held in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, with three recognisable flag-off points, HSN21KM aims to bring together runners from all walks of life – inculcating the spirit of running in the young ones, challenging the elite and inspiring others to beat their personal bests or make their maiden attempt in a running event. “This will be an event for anyone and everyone. From elite runners to casual strollers and just about everyone in between, HSN21KM will be a challenge, and more importantly, also a fun event that unites the people of Malaysia and international running aficionados. Since we opened for registration, we currently have 6,000 participants registered for HSN21KM, and we are geared up for the registrations to come flowing in after this launch,” said Datuk Megat Zulkarnain.

The event will feature three distances - 21km, 10km and 5km. The 5km fun run is designed as an obstacle race, and unlike the more gruelling, mud-slinging variety, there will be fun-filled obstacles for the whole family instead this time. It is also unique in that participation is open to persons with disabilities, wheelchair-bound or otherwise. Flagging off at the famous Padang Merbok, the 5km fun run will make a thoroughly enjoyable race for families and fun-loving participants.

(L-R) Brynn Lovett, Miss Malaysia World 2015 and HSN21KM Supporter; Mr. Darma Devan, Project Manager, TwentyFirst Century Sports; Mr. Victor Tiew, Brand Manager, Brooks Malaysia; Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin​,​ ​President, ​Muse Group Asia; YB Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia; Datuk Md Radzaif Mohamed, Deputy CEO, Proton Holdings Bhd; Ms. Azariah Tahir, Corporate Affairs, Suntory Beverage & Food Malaysia; Pn Norlila, Sales Manager, Swiss-Inn Chinatown KL

Dataran Merdeka will be the flag-off point for the 21km race. Set to be the highlight of HSN21KM due to the record-breaking opportunity, the 21km route will pass through several known landmarks such as Bukit Tunku, Petronas Twin Towers and more. The 10km race, which is expected to have the largest participation, will flag off at Jalan Raja Laut, also passing through several landmarks on its route. All three races will end at Dataran Merdeka.

HSN21KM has much to offer participants. First off, the prize purses being offered for the various categories are large, with up to RM36,000 to be won. The winner of the 21km Open Men’s and Women’s categories can look forward to a RM 7,000 cash prize with various purses offered up to 6th place in the 21km Open and Veterans’ categories for both men and women. Cash prizes are also offered to the top five finishers in the 10km race – for the Open and Veterans, and Men and Women’s categories.

Beat Your Record is a special feature of HSN21KM, where Malaysian participants will have the opportunity to surpass the National Record for 21km and take home a whopping RM 20,000 incentive. Arul Thevar Muniandy, who recorded a time of 1 hour 7 minutes 59 seconds in Ipoh on 4 July 2004, currently holds the men’s National record for the half marathon, while in the women’s category, record holder Norlida Ismail set the best time of 1 hour 27 minutes 15 seconds on 21 May 2005 at the Arafura Games, Australia.

Mr. Darma Devan, Project Manager, TwentyFirst Century Sports; ​Pn Norlila, Sales Manager, Swiss-Inn Chinatown KL​; Ms. Azariah Tahir, Corporate Affairs, Suntory Beverage & Food Malaysia; ​​Brynn Lovett, Miss Malaysia World 2015 and HSN21KM Supporter; Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin President, ​Muse Group Asia​; YB Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia​; Datuk Md Radzaif Mohamed​, Deputy CEO, Proton Holdings Bhd​; ​Mr. Victor Tiew, Brand Manager, Brooks Malaysia

“These records are set by fellow Malaysians, who have a place in history because of their outstanding feat. It has been more than 10 years since anyone has broken those records. HSN21KM challenges runners to make this attempt. If you break the record, you’ll be a newly discovered Malaysian sporting star! In the years to come, we are also looking to expand Malaysia’s reputation as an international destination for competitive runners, by organising bigger races in the future and more. The HSN21KM is an excellent beginning for the Ministry’s collaborations with the private sector to make this vision a reality,” added YB Khairy.

For runners who are capable of bringing their family and friends together, the Race Captain is just what they need. Individuals who can get 10 other people to sign up for HSN21KM in any category can run for free and will be called Race Captains.

Several companies have come on board as official partners and sponsors for HSN21KM. PROTON is the Presenter Sponsor, and is offering a car up for grabs as the lucky draw prize, which will be held at Dataran Merdeka in conjunction with the race as well as Hari Sukan Negara. Both HSN21KM runners and visitors to the Hari Sukan Negara celebration at Dataran Merdeka are eligible for this coupon-based lucky draw. With Brooks Malaysia signing up as the Official Apparel Sponsor for HSN21KM, all participants can expect running T-shirts courtesy of Brooks. HSN21KM has also signed up Lucozade as the Official Beverage for the run and Swiss-Inn as the Official Hotel.

The race pack will be available for collection on 1 and 2 October 2016 from 10am to 6pm at Dewan Dato’ Mokhtar Dahari in the Olympic Sports Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

There will be much to occupy members of the public at Dataran Merdeka in conjunction with Hari Sukan Negara. Activities to expect include popular sports and games like netball, futsal, arm-wrestling, tug-of-war and an eSports competition, among others. There wlll be a OneSilat National Series competition for a touch of the traditional, while visitors young and old can also occupy themselves with kids’ activities, a sports bazaar and much more.

Registration for HSN21KM ends on 15 September 2016. Registration will close after this date, or if the maximum capacity is reached before the closing date, whichever comes first.

For more information on HSN21KM, please visit www.hsn21km.com 

ALMOST RM70,000 RAISED IN JOG FOR HOPE 2016: Taylor’s College Sri Hartamas students raise funds for three children’s homes in 8th edition of annual charity run

SUBANG JAYA, 25 August 2016 – There is no better way to encourage members of the public to give back to society than to get everyone to contribute in a fun way. Jog For Hope 2016 was testament to that. The annual run organised by Taylor’s College Sri Hartamas, which took place on 14 August 2016, saw 1,786 participants - from fun-loving strollers to elite runners, engaging in a morning of fitness and fun. Along a route cutting through the hilly roads of Hartamas, runners ran for the right reasons – to contribute towards a charitable cause.

First organised in 2009, Jog For Hope is fully organised by students of Taylor’s College Sri Hartamas. This year, the organising committee comprised 42 students, supported by staff members of the college. Jog For Hope 2016 – the 8th edition of the event, featured three distances – the 3km Fun Run, 6km Turbo Run and 10km Resilience Run. Participation fees were RM35 for schoolchildren, RM45 for tertiary students, RM55 for all other participants, and RM 450 for a corporate group of 10 participants.

Jog For Hope 2016 successfully raised a total of RM69,000, which was then channelled to benefit three homes for underprivileged children. The Kirtash Handicapped and Disabled Children’s Home in Rawang, the Sweet Care Home in Selayang and the Special Children Society in Ampang each received a donation of RM23,000.

Project manager Dheevanth Devendran was delighted at the success of the event. “Education is more than just textbooks. Through this event, we were able to grow our leadership and life skills. I am proud of my committee for their hard work and sacrifice since April. We have gained tremendously in experience by organising this event. Thank you to everyone who helped us along the way - at every point of planning and execution. My appreciation also goes out to everyone who participated in the run – I hope you enjoyed yourselves! Each and every one of you is very much appreciated,” Dheevanth said.

Dheevanth shared that the amount raised was well beyond the committee’s expectations. “Overall, there were not as many participants as we had last year, but we managed to raise the funds needed. Thanks to the generosity of the participants, each home received a significant amount. We also had more sponsors this year compared to the previous year. On behalf of the committee, I would like to convey our deepest appreciation to the sponsors for contributing to this event,” he added.

One participant, Tasha Thomas, who is a student at Taylor’s College, said that she thoroughly enjoyed the race. “It’s really nice to see everyone coming together for a good cause. For me, it was like a reunion as I got to meet some of my high school friends. And since this is my first time in a race, it was fun to run together,” she said.

It was indeed an atmosphere of togetherness, as participation saw not only Taylor’s students, but also a mix of parents, children, locals, international visitors and just about everyone who had heard about the run.

Another participant, Ahmad, said he got to know about the race through one of his friends. “I found out today that this run was organised entirely by students! What a great achievement. Looking at the amount raised and the charities that will benefit from the donations, I feel that my morning has been very well spent, helping these students succeed in their noble cause,” he commented.

For further information on Jog For Hope 2016, please visit the website and for further details on Taylor’s College, please log on to http://college.taylors.edu.my 

Lace Up Your Shoes – HSN21KM Comes to You!

KUALA LUMPUR, 9 August 2016 – Runners can find themselves alongside fellow Malaysians and international running enthusiasts in the spirit of fitness and fun at the inaugural HSN21KM run set to take place on 8 October 2016. The HSN21KM - the marquee event at this year’s Hari Sukan Negara celebration, is an initiative by renowned event organiser Muse Group Asia, supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia. The run, in line with the mission of Hari Sukan Negara, is aimed at further igniting and strengthening the desire to keep fit and be healthy among Malaysians, and to create a sporting nation. This is the second year Hari Sukan Negara is being held, after the inaugural celebration in 2015.

Held in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, with three recognisable flag-off points, HSN21KM aims to bring together runners from all walks of life – inculcating the spirit of running in the young ones, challenging the elite and inspiring others to beat their personal bests or make their maiden attempt at a running event. “This will be an event for anyone and everyone. From elite runners to casual strollers and just about everyone in between, HSN21KM will be a challenge, and more importantly, also a fun event that unites the people of Malaysia and international running aficionados. Since we opened for registration four weeks ago, we currently have 1,000 participants registered for HSN21KM, and we are geared up for the registrations to come flowing in after this,” said Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin, President of Muse Group Asia.

HSN21KM will feature three distances - 21km, 10km and 5km. The 5km fun run is designed as an obstacle race, and unlike the more gruelling, mud-slinging variety, there will be fun-filled obstacles for the whole family instead this time. It is also unique in that participation is open to persons with disabilities, wheelchair-bound or otherwise. Flagging off at the famous Padang Merbok, the 5km fun run will make for a thoroughly enjoyable race for families and fun-loving participants.

Dataran Merdeka will be the flag-off point for the 21km race. Set to be the highlight of HSN21KM due to the record-breaking opportunity, the 21km route will pass through several known landmarks such as Bukit Tunku, Petronas Twin Towers and more. The 10km race, which is expected to have the largest participation, will flag off at Jalan Raja Laut, also passing through several landmarks on its route. All three races will end at Dataran Merdeka.

HSN21KM has much to offer participants. First off, the prize purses being offered for the various categories are large, with up to RM36,000 to be won. The winner of the 21km Open Men’s and Women’s categories can look forward to a RM7,000 cash prize with various purses offered up to 6th placing in the 21km Open and Veterans’ categories for both men and women. Cash prizes are also offered to the top five finishers in the 10km race – for the Open and Veterans, and Men and Women’s categories.

Beat Your Record is a special feature of HSN21KM, where Malaysian participants will have the opportunity to surpass the National 21km Record and take home a whopping RM20,000 incentive. Arul Thevar Muniandy, who recorded a time of 1 hour 7 minutes 59 seconds in Ipoh on 4 July 2004, currently holds the men’s National Record for the half marathon, while in the women’s category, record holder Sheela Samivellu set the best time of 1 hour 27 minutes 9 seconds on 30 September 2012 at the Petaling Jaya Half Marathon.

“These records are set by fellow Malaysians, who have a place in history because of their outstanding feat. HSN21KM challenges runners to make this attempt to break those records. If you break the record, you’ll be a newly discovered Malaysian sporting star! In the years to come, we are also looking to expand Malaysia’s reputation as an international destination for competitive runners, by organising bigger races in the future and more. The HSN21KM is an excellent beginning for the private sector’s collaborations with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to make this vision a reality,” added Datuk Megat Zulkarnain.

For runners who are capable of bringing their family and friends together, they are called to step up as Race Captains. Individuals who can get 10 other people to sign up for HSN21KM in any category can run for free and will be called Race Captains.

Several companies have come on board as official partners and sponsors for HSN21KM. PROTON is the Presenter Sponsor, and is offering a car up for grabs as the lucky draw prize, which will be held at Dataran Merdeka in conjunction with the race as well as Hari Sukan Negara. Both HSN21KM runners and visitors to the Hari Sukan Negara celebration at Dataran Merdeka are eligible for this coupon-based lucky draw. With Brooks Malaysia signing up as the Official Apparel Sponsor for HSN21KM, all participants can expect running T-shirts courtesy of Brooks. Additionally, the first 2,000 registrants are eligible to get a pair of Brooks running shorts, and a 40% discount for any Brooks apparel or a 30% discount for Brooks shoes. The shorts may be redeemed from any Brooks store by showing the early bird confirmation email as proof, while the discount vouchers will be given out during race pack collection. Only one Brooks discount voucher can be used per transaction and cannot be combined with other vouchers or offers. HSN21KM has also signed up Lucozade as the Official Beverage for the run and Swiss-Inn as the Official Hotel.

There will be much to occupy members of the public at Dataran Merdeka in conjunction with Hari Sukan Negara. Activities to expect include popular sports and games like netball, futsal, arm-wrestling, tug-of-war and an e-Sports competition, among others. There will be a OneSilat National Series competition for a touch of fight sports, while visitors young and old can also occupy themselves with kids’ activities, a sports bazaar and much more.

Registration for HSN21KM ends on 15 September 2016. Registration will close after this date, or if the maximum capacity is reached before the closing date, whichever comes first.

For more information on HSN21KM, please visit www.hsn21km.com or Facebook page.

The 8th Kordel’s Charity Fun Walk Builds Momentum with Impending National Public Health Burden as Ageing Population Increases 16% by 2050

Kuala Lumpur, 31 July 2016: The 8th Kordel’s Charity Fun Walk builds momentum as impending national public health burden looms with the ageing population (aged 65 and older), according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), increasing by 16% worldwide by 2050 from 524 million in 2010. Kordel’s Charity Fun Walk is organised to promote physical activity to encourage the public to manage modifiable risk factors, to raise awareness on osteoarthritis (OA), and to support needy patients with the Arthritis Foundation Malaysia. This year, the walk recorded its highest number of participants ever, as the walk gains increasing public support for its cause.

“Age is the most powerful predictor of OA with the prevalence of OA rising steeply with advancing age at all joint sites. The estimated prevalence of symptomatic knee OA in populations above the age of 65 is 30%. Women are twice as likely to suffer from knee OA as men. The A Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) study in Malaysia showed that 9.3% of adult Malaysians complained of knee pain with a sharp increase in pain rate to 23% in those over 55 years of age and 39% in those over 65 years,” said Ho Swee Lin, General Manager of Cambert (M) Sdn Bhd.

“OA can be defined as joint failure, and those who are older and overweight are more prone to knee OA,” notes Ho. “As such, it is important for everyone to be physically active, to reduce the risk of this disease. Even for those with the condition, walking can ease the stiffness, and will benefit overall health.”

Ho adds, “While there are treatments for OA, prevention is always the best. Kordel’s is at the forefront of introducing several promising agents that may help to retard the progression of OA, in particularly knee OA and may slow down the progression of cartilage degradation. In combination with healthy eating and staying physically active, both non-modifiable (ageing, gender, genetics) and modifiable (weight, lifestyle) risk factors can be mitigated.”

“Keeping joints such as knees, hips and elbows healthy is important to allow you to run, walk, jump, play sports and do the things you like to do. Among the most important things you can do to keep your joints healthy is by being physically active, to strengthen the muscles around the joints,” Ho advised. “As such, we hope to raise awareness on the importance of regular exercise and to cultivate the habit of living a physically active lifestyle through our annual Kordel’s Charity Fun Walk, which encourages the whole family to participate and exercise together.”

“OA is one of the most common causes of limb joint and spine arthritis with a prevalence of around the region of 10-20% of the adult population. In Malaysia, the most common form of OA is knee OA. Knee OA has an estimated prevalence of 30% in those above the age of 65,” shares AFM President Dr Sargunan Sockalingam. “The condition is costing Malaysia millions, not only due to the cost of treatment, but also through loss of productivity in the workforce and cost of disability. This is a national public health burden and we are very grateful for Kordel’s continuous effort in supporting this cause. AFM affirms our commitment to help needy patients with joint replacements treatments, to help improve mobility and quality of life.”

Targeted at the whole family, the 7km walk began at 6.00am at Padang Merbok, Kuala Lumpur. After the walk, participants enjoyed light and healthy breakfast offered at several stalls and food trucks; and enjoyed activities such as lucky draws, photo booth, and health check-ups.

Proceeds from the Charity Fun Walk will be channelled to Arthritis Foundation Malaysia, a non-profit organisation set up to increase the awareness of arthritis and related conditions as well as to look after the welfare of needy patients who cannot afford joint replacement.


About Kordel’s

Kordel’s is one of the leading health food suppliers of a wide range of food and nutritional supplements. Kordel’s was established in the year 1949 by Dr. Lelord Kordel, a renowned American researcher and practitioner. Kordel’s aims to provide affordable natural health supplements for a lifetime of good health for the consumers.