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.
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