Monday, January 13, 2003

Over 3,000 take part in final run

KAMPAR: More than 3,000 people swarmed the town padang here for the final leg of the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) torch run before its ground-breaking ceremony began yesterday.

The crowd began arriving as early as 8am and soon the field was a sea of dark blue Utar flags after MCA Youth members distributed 12,000 flags for the torch run alone.

Among those who took part were MCA Youth members from all over Malaysia, 300 students from the Kampar branch of Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman, Taiping Hash House Harriers and students and representatives from 500 guilds and associations.

The crowd gathered around the cauldron at 12.30pm and the torch was lit by MCA Youth deputy chief and Kluang MP Hoo Seong Chang, Perak MCA Youth chairman Datuk Tan Chin Meng and youth leaders.

ALL SET: Utar planning and development committee reprensentative Jay Yeunh (fourth from left) explaining the Utar campus model to Prime Minister Datuk Dr Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Dr Ling. Looking on are (from left) Datin Seri Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Datin Seri Ena Ling and Utar president Dr Ng Lay Swee.
Also present were Utar torch run adviser Ling Hee Leong, MCA Youth central committee member Ho You Meng and MCA Youth secretary-general Loh Seng Kok.

Led by Hoo, the crowd poured out of the field, attracting the attention of the town folks as they went on a 4km-run through Jalan Idris, Jalan Pejabat Pos, the bus station and on to Jalan Bandar Baru and the Utar campus site.

There, Tan handed the torch to MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik at 2pm.

The torch run, aimed at raising funds and creating awareness for Utar was launched in Tapah on Dec 1. The run will continue to be organised by MCA Youth in other states.