KUALA LUMPUR – The Jom Jalan with NPC 2025 event, held today at Padang Merbok, Kuala Lumpur, attracted an impressive 420 participants. The gathering brought together a diverse mix of seasoned athletes, casual walkers, families, and schoolchildren, all united for a morning focused on promoting health, fitness, and community spirit.
Participants had the option of joining either the 10km competitive walk or the 5km fun walk. The 10km race featured multiple categories: Open Men, Open Women, Boys and Girls (ages 13-17), and Veterans (40 and above).
Organised by the National Press Club (NPC) Malaysia, and supported by the Federal Territories Athletics Association (FTAA), the event kicked off at 6.30am.
The crowd was a blend of journalists, sports enthusiasts, members of the public, and those simply keen for an energetic start to the weekend.
Notable figures from the sports world added star power to the occasion, including Olympian racewalkers Anastasia Karen Raj and Yuan Yufang, Olympian and Malaysia Olympian Association president Noraseela Khalid, and former national walkers Shahrulhaizy Abdul Rahman and Narinder Singh.
One of the most heartwarming highlights of the event was the participation of 20 children from the Incredible Warrior programme, a group of special needs children who took part with their parents. Many of them were seen beaming with pride as they crossed the finish line.
Supporters and sponsors of the event included Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad, Prasarana, Prince Court Medical Centre, F&N, Nestlé-Milo, and Gardenia.
NPC president Datuk Ahirudin Attan expressed his satisfaction with the success of the event, noting that it was not only about fostering camaraderie but also an opportunity to identify emerging talent, particularly among young racewalkers still honing their skills.
“Jom Jalan with NPC 2025 provided an excellent platform for race walkers, particularly schoolchildren, to test their capabilities,” said Ahirudin, who is also the Executive Director of Big Boom Media Group, which publishes Scoop.
“The weather was perfect, and everyone had fun. This is the second edition, and we are delighted to see more walkers this year, including many schoolchildren and young kids.”
He added that NPC aims to make next year’s edition even larger and more inclusive. – November 29, 2025