LARIAN Obor KL2017 bermula di Johor Bahru pada Sabtu (13 Mei) selepas api Obor dinyalakan secara rasmi oleh Menteri Belia dan Sukan YB Brig Gen Khairy Jamaluddin di Muzium Tokoh, menandakan bakal bermulanya satu lagi fenomena menjelang bermula temasya Kuala Lumpur 2017 selepas kejayaan penaganjuran acara Larian Baton Bangkit Bersama.
Bertujuan untuk terus menyemarak semangat “Bangkit Bersama” di kalangan rakyat seluruh negara dan meraih sokongan terhadap penganjuran Sukan SEA ke-29 dan Sukan Para ASEAN ke-9 Ogos ini, Larian Obor KL2017 anjuran Jawatankuasa Pengelola Malaysia (MASOC) KL 2017 itu bakal memahat sejarah baru, dengan pelbagai acara sampingan dan gimik disusun sepanjang penjelajahan ke dari 13 Mei hingga 12 Ogos ini.
Pertukaran baton kepada obor disempurnakan YB Brig Jen Khairy sebaik tiba di Muzium Tokoh dari Stesen Keretapi Woodlands di Singapura.
Perjalanan konvoi YB Brig Jen Khairy dari Woodlands ke Muzium Toko Johor diiringi kenderaan anggota Kelab Pacuan Empat Roda (4WD) dan kelab motosikal berkuasa besar serta paluan gendang menandakan bermulanya kemeriahan acara.
Berakhirnya larian baton bermakna bermulanya satu fenomena baru menjelang temasya KL2017. Kata YB Brig Jen Khairy: “Larian baton secara rasminya tamat hari ini. Baton bertukar menjadi Obor dan akan dibawa ke seluruh pelosok tanahair termasuk ke Sabah dan Sarawak.”
Setiba di Muzium Toko, baton diserah kepada maskot rasmi KL2017 RIMAU. Obor kemudian dinyalakan secara rasmi oleh YB Brig Jen Khairy, menandakan bermulanya Larian Obor KL2017.
Obor seterusnya diserahkan kepada wakil rasmi Menteri Besar Johor, Datuk Zulkarnain Kamisan, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Belia Sukan, Kebudayaan dan Warisan Negeri Johor sebelum acara larian Obor bermula.
“Sambutan cukup hebat, saya ucapkan terima kasih kepada kerajaan Negeri dan Jabatan Belia dan Sukan Negeri Johor kerana telah menyelaraskan sambutan pada hari ini. Terima kasih kepada penaja penaja terutama TM yang membawa kumpulan sorak daripada Team Malaysia untuk bersama meraikan hari bersejarah ini.
“Kita telah berjaya bangkit sebagai satu rantau menerusi Larian Baton, dan dalam masa tiga bulan, kita akan bangkit bersama menerusi Larian Obor yang akan menyatukan rakyat Malaysia,” kata beliau.
Turut hadir, Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Sekretariat Jawatan Pengelola Malaysia (MASOC) KL2017, Dato Seri Zolkples Embong, Setiausaha Agung Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM), Datuk Low Beng Choo dan Presiden Majlis Paralimpik Malaysia (MPM) SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin.
Selepas Johor Bahru, Obor akan menyusuri beberapa daerah lain di Johor seperti Kulai, Kluang, Batu Pahant, Muar dan Tangkak hingga 18 Mei ini. Obor akan merentasi Melaka, Negeri Sembilan (sepanjang Mei), Labuan, Sabah, Sarawak, Perlis, Kedah (Jun), Pulau Pinang, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang (Julai), Selangor (Julai-Ogos) dan Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (Ogos).
RISING TOGETHER WITH KL2017 TORCH RUN
THE KL2017 Torch Run, which kicks off on Saturday (May 13) in Johor Bahru, is set to become another phenomenon following the successful organisation of the Rising Together Baton Run which concluded in Singapore today.
The official lighting of the Games torch by Youth and Sports Minister YB Brig Gen Khairy Jamaluddin took place at Museum Tokoh in Johor Bharu, signaling the start of the run which will traverse the length and breadth of the country in the next three months.
Aimed at hyping up the 2017 Games, the KL2017 Torch Run, scheduled to end on Aug 12 at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil, is expected to raise the spirit of Malaysians to come out in full force and support the national contingent during the Games in August and September.
The baton’s journey has ended, and now a new journey begins – the Torch Run which will allow people from all walks of life to feel the pulse and be part of the Games, said YB Brig Gen Khairy.
Upon its arrival at Muzium Toko, the torch was lit up in a meaningful ceremony by YB Brig Gen Khairy, who then passed the torch to Datuk Zulkarnain Kamisan, Chairman of the State Youth, Sports, Cultural and Heritage Committee.
“It was a great reception, my appreciation to the State government and the Youth and Sports Department for coordinating this event. I’m grateful to TM for bringing along their supporters from Team Malaysia for this meaningful occasion.
“In the next three month, we hope to rise together, be united, and help ensure the successful organisation of Kuala Lumpur 2017,” he said.
Also present were Ministry’s Secretary General Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali, MASOC Chief Executive Officer Dato Seri Zolkples Embong, Olympic Council of Malaysia Secretary-General Datuk Low Beng Choo and Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPM) President SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin.
After Johor, the torch will be paraded across in selected districts in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan (May), Labuan, Sabah, Sarawak, Perlis, Kedah (June), Penang, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang (July), Selangor (July-August) and Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur (August).