Category: News

Published: Wednesday, 03 October 2018 12:11

29th September, 2019, Kuala Lumpur – In conjunction with the global World Rivers Day celebration last week, EcoKnights, together with other partners and sponsors, organized the inaugural Bunus Fun Walk for River 2018.

The Fun Walk was aimed at raising public awareness on Sungai Bunus and also to fundraise for the Sungai Bunus Action Group (Jawatankuasa Tindakan Sungai Bunus) – a coalition of multi-stakeholders under the Local Agenda 21 of the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL). The Action Group comprises of riverine communities and stakeholders that have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to be a part in the city council’s effort to rehabilitate city rivers to provide green spaces and also to enhance the value of land around the rives  that traverses across Kuala Lumpur. EcoKnights is one of the key partners in the Action Group, and together with other partners such as Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Expressionz Professional Suites, Puncak Niaga, Bike with Elena, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, EcoClean Sdn Bhd, among others participated in the Fun Run.

The Fun Run saw close to 500 participants, many whom were employees from the corporate sponsors, walking a total distance of 3.5 km around the Boyan Retention pond, which is the point where Sungai Bunus flows to Kampung Baru. The morning started out first with a round of Zumba which warmed the participants up. Among the special guests who graced the event and launched the program was the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Federal Territories, Dr. Shahruddin Mohd. Salleh and the Executive Director (Planning) of the Kuala Lumpur City Council, Datuk Haj. Mahadi b Che Ngah, together with Yasmin Rasyid, founder and president of EcoKnights, who is also the Chairperson of the Sungai Bunus Action Group.

“The whole idea was to bring awareness to an ecosystem that is much neglected, in fact abused and misused. Since 2015, one of the key activities the Action Group collaborates on is the organization of public awareness campaigns such as this one, where the public can participate and walk, and swing by any of the five check points along the route aimed at departing knowledge on river protection while empowering the participants,” said Yasmin Rasyid.

“The EcoKnights team, as usual, pulled a very great effort, despite the less than one month of planning and implementation, and thus, my heartfelt gratitude to them, as well as to the other partners of Local Agenda 21 DBKL. We managed to raise the targeted RM15,000 and we hope the Action Group can continue its commendable effort in the city,” added Yasmin. 

After the walk, participants could extend their time by participating in an upcycling workshop by Poptani Asia, and a free plant giveaway by UTM lecturers and students. Below is a snapshot of some of the activities that took place at the Walk. 

Other recent press releases and coverages of the Bunus Fun Walk for River 2018:

• 13th September 2018. Celebrate World Rivers Day with ‘Bunus Fun Walk 4 River 2018’ 
• 14th September 2018. Crying over the bad condition of rivers