| Azaraimy HH |
TUTONG District launched its very own Car-Free Sundays programme yesterday, with a host of entertaining fitness and family activities that drew crowds to the town centre.
‘Tutongku Ceria’ – an initiative of the Tutong District Office and Tutong Municipal Board, along with several non-government organisations (NGOs) and Mukim and Village Consultative Councils – gave the district’s residents the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint by cycling through traffic-free roads in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere for four hours.
The event began with mass Subuh prayers at the Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque in Pekan Tutong, along with a ‘Tazkirah’ (religious reminder) on ‘Health in Islam’, presented by Haji Fansuri Sharimi @ Mansur bin Mohammad Ali, a Religious Development Officer from the Islamic Da’wah Centre.
Tutongku Ceria then commenced with a 16km mass cycling event which began at the Sungai Tutong Jetty and took the cyclists past government offices and landmarks in Pekan Tutong, through the main roads of Jalan Enche Awang, Kampong Panchor Dulit, Kampong Panchor Papan, Muara-Tutong Highway, Bukit Bendera, the Tutong-Telisai Highway and Jalan Serambangun.
Among those participating in the Tutongku Ceria programme were Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism; and Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Also present were Legislative Council (LegCo) members YB Haji Umarali bin Esung, YB Haji Abdul Wahab bin Haji Apong and YB Haji Ramli bin Haji Lahit; Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohamad Daud, the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; permanent secretaries from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; and senior government officers.
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism; Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports; and Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohamad Daud, the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office launch the ‘Tutongku Ceria’ 16km mass cycling event . – NORMAZLINA MD
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism; and Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports during their tour of the ‘Tutongku Ceria’. – PHOTOS: AZARAIMY HH
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism; and Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports cutting the ‘Tutongku Ceria’ cake
Members of the public during the aerobic session
The Sembatang Team, one of the large cycling groups taking part in the mass cycling event, in a group photo
Participants of the ‘Tutongku Ceria’ 16km mass cycling event in action
There were also alternative activities in the form of aerobic exercises, family sports, digital artistry, freestyle football, a cooking challenge, a parrot show, an eagle show and a face-painting session.
Other side-attractions included local delicacies and handicrafts from the ‘One Village, One Product’ (1K1P) initiative, a product display from the Prisons Department, and business stalls run by youth entrepreneurs.
According to Dato Haji Roni bin Haji Rosli, the President of Brunei Darussalam Cycling Federation, public participation in mass cycling activities across the country has been “very encouraging”.
Meanwhile, Sembatang Team, one of the large cycling groups taking part in the mass cycling event, is welcoming the idea of Tutongku Ceria as an ideal platform to bring Tutong to life on Sundays, by bringing families and friends together.
One of the Sembatang Team members, Pengiran Sulaiman bin Pengiran Haji Arsat, told the Bulletin that the car-free Sundays programme should be held at least once or twice a month.
The Sembatang Team is currently active in several mass cycling events in the country, with around 20 members taking part in the cycling session through Pekan Tutong yesterday.
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