| James Kon |
BRUNEI Darussalam joined Indonesia and other ASEAN member countries yesterday in marking the launch of ASEAN Car Free Day, a movement initiated by the people of ASEAN where participants will be carrying out physical exercises together with other activities during the Car Free Day of their countries in a bid to promote a healthy lifestyle and culture.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with six other ministries which have had a hand in the Bandarku Ceria activities.
The commemorative event was held at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien. It was launched by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar alongside Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar, Minister of Finance II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister of Energy, and Manpower and Industry Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein and Minister of Communications Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Yusof, as well as members of the Diplomatic Corps from ASEAN member countries and senior officials from various ministries.
Following the launch, the Cabinet Ministers took part in an aerobics warm up exercise, before going on a 2.6km walkathon around Bandar Seri Begawan.
They also toured various exhibition booths set up in the stands within the compound of the Taman.
Commenting on the event, the Minister of Health said, “Alhamdullillah, today we are gathered here for the ASEAN Car Free Day, which is led by Indonesia. Each ASEAN member countries is celebrating Car Free Day in a bid to reduce pollution and encourage an active lifestyle.
“In Brunei Darussalam, Bandarku Ceria started in 2016 and this event is like an extension of it. The public response to Bandarku Ceria has been encouraging and ASEAN Car Free Day can really get the ball rolling in terms of getting people out and engaging in physical activity. People of all ages are excited to take part in Bandarku Ceria every Sunday.
“We need the effort of everyone and not only from the government agencies. This is an opportunity for people to make full use of Bandar Seri Begawan and enjoy their city,” he continued.
Highlighting that “health is everyone’s business”, the minister added, “It starts with a little step. For example just by walking. Walking is a simple exercise that everyone can do anywhere and anytime. Walking at least three kilometres three times a week is a very good exercise.”
A supportive environment for large-scale recreational and community building activities, such as temporary park-like spaces for recreation, are provided in each of the countries where the Car Free Day initiative is held.
Benefits of the initiative, which has been held in a number of cities beyond the ASEAN region – the largest being Bogota which covers the entire city, include reduced traffic congestion, significant drop in air pollution, better environmental and personal health awareness among the public, as well as an upsurge in small business activities held alongside the main event.
Yesterday’s event is seen as a scaling up and acknowledgment of the importance of the car-free initiative at the regional level.
More significantly, it represents an effort to realise the implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on Culture of Prevention (COP) for a peaceful, inclusive, resilient, healthy and harmonious society adopted during the 31st ASEAN Summit on November 13, 2017 in Manila, as well as the recommendations from the 13th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM) held from September 3-7, 2017 in Brunei Darussalam.