By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 12: Sarawak Energy Isthmus Run 2024 has raised RM180,000 for charitable bodies and associations from runner registration fees.
In a statement today, Sarawak Energy Berhad (Sarawak Energy) revealed that eight recipients were the Kidney Association of Sarawak, Association for the Welfare of Intellectually Disabled Children Sarawak, Life Care Society, Sarawak Women for Women Society, Sarawak Society for the Deaf, Mental Health Association of Sarawak, Sarawak Society for the Blind, and Salvation Army Children’s Home.
Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni congratulated all runners for completing their routes and contributing to the various charitable organisations.
“I am pleased to see events such as these—which promote healthy living across Sarawak—grow in popularity in the State.
“Thank you to all runners and Sarawak Energy for making this possible,” he said after flagging off and running the 5KM fun run held at Kuching Isthmus, in conjunction with Kuching City Day yesterday.
Earlier, in his welcoming speech, Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili highlighted that Isthmus Run 2024 is the largest edition since the event’s introduction in 2013.
Sarawak Energy Isthmus Run 2024 attracted 3,615 runners, including 117 from other Malaysian states and 33 international runners from Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Kenya, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
“The Isthmus Run is one of Sarawak Energy’s major initiatives to promote healthy living among our workforce— complementing the company’s sporting events and our weekly sports day on Thursdays.
“It is also a platform that allows us to give back to our local communities,” he added.
Sharbini also announced that the 10th edition of the Sarawak Energy Isthmus Run would take place on August 10, 2025, with a new 42.195km full marathon category to celebrate a decade of holding the event.
This year, 596 runners participated in the 21km half marathon; 765 runners in the 10km category; and 2,254 runners in the 5km fun run.
A total of 516 runners who participated in the 21km half marathon category managed to finish within the 4-hour cut-off time.
The top three finishers of the half marathon were Simon Rotich, Andy Yeo Jia Wei and Sunny Jong Shi Xian in the Male Open category, while Ng Sing Hui, Davina Heng and Davieonna Padan won the Female Open category. The winners walked away with cash prizes valued at RM2,500, RM1,500 and RM750 respectively.
In the 10km category, Muhammad Shahir, Ahmad Faisal, and Muhd Amirul Muhammad were the top three finishers in the Male Open.
At the same time, Cherynna Corey Chin, Emylia Lynn Ghazali Binti Zulfikar, and Lina Tchung led the Female Open.
They received cash prizes of RM750, RM500, and RM300, respectively.
All top 15 finishers in the 21km half marathon and 10km category received cash prizes, with the 21km finishers receiving an exclusive top 15 finisher’s t-shirt.
In line with its commitment to sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Sarawak Energy implemented eco-friendly practices, such as using biodegradable paper cups and reusable non-woven race pack kits.
As part of its initiative to promote Sarawak’s Green Energy Agenda, free electric bus shuttles were also available for visitors from the city centre to the event venue.
The utility also promoted green mobility with a hydrogen fuel cell and electric vehicle showcase as a side event of the Isthmus Run, where event-goers could view the Hyundai Nexo and BYD Atto 3.
Other side events included food trucks and various booths offering products and services ranging from health and wellness to handicrafts and games.
The event concluded with lucky draws, where prizes worth RM10,000 were bagged by lucky winners.
Sarawak Energy’s Group Executive Committee members were also present and the event was supported by the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication and the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak.
Event partners included 100 Plus, Milo, UCSI Hotel Kuching, AirAsia Ride, KPJ Kuching, Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, Jabatan Laut Malaysia and Grit Event Management. — DayakDaily
