KUALA LUMPUR: Aug 19, 2008 will be remembered for the successful conclusion of another edition of the The Edge-Bursa Malaysia Rat Race.
 The ninth edition of the unique race saw corporate Malaysia putting their best foot forward to raise a record RM1.75 million for 20 charitable organisations, made all the more meaningful in these hard economic times.
A total of 750 company CEOs, executives and non-executives took to the KL street asphalt, huffing and puffing under the hot scorching sun for a good cause to assuage the hardships of those less fortunate.
This year's race set another new record with the participation of 74 organisations, which included for the first time the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), represented by its Asia-Pacific managing director Peter Tierney and staff from Singapore. Other stock exchanges taking part were those from Thailand, Korea and Singapore.
"The incredible response and support speaks volumes for corporate Malaysia and Malaysians in general. Many organisations have been very supportive, repeating their participation in the Rat Race year after year," said adviser of the Rat Race and managing director/editor-in-chief of The Edge Ho Kay Tat.
 Bursa Malaysia Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Yusli Mohamed Yusoff has upped the ante, saying that the race organisers are targeting to raise RM2 million in next year's edition. Last year, 116 teams took time out to run for this good cause and helped raise RM1.56 million.
"As part of Bursa Malaysia's continuous efforts to preserve the environment, we will be contributing to the 'Adopt-A-Tree' programme pioneered by Yayasan Anak Warisan Alam. Under this programme, the exchange will plant one tree for every team that participated in this race," he said.
Official sponsors for the event were Coca-Cola Malaysia, Astro and LiteFM, with Sapura Group, Celcom Malaysia Bhd and NYSE Euronext as the Gold Sponsors; and Sunrise Bhd and Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Bhd as the Silver Sponsors.
Donating the highest amount of RM75,000, DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd took home the special prize for the largest contingent with 10 teams. Gold sponsor and first-time participant Sapura Group fielded three teams in the race and sent five CEOs to compete in the 1km CEO Race.
CEO race
A complete opposite from last year's rainy weather, this year's race saw some 60 CEOs participating and not being deterred from completing the 1km race, though some would have affirmed their suspicion Olympic glory was never within their reach.
 Champion of the male category was Lee Kok Khee, CEO of Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd. While he was dubbed the Iron Man, Lee said he did not expect to win. Nonetheless, he has thrown down the gauntlet and is now expecting to win next year's race.
The first runner-up was DiGi.Com Bhd CEO Johan Eric Dennelind, while the second runner-up was Scomi Engineering Bhd president Hilmy Zaini Zainal.
In the women's category, the winner was Maheswari Kanniah, senior vice-president of RHB banking group. A former national hockey player, Maheswari said she was rather excited about her win considering it was her first time participating in the race.
The first runner-up was Cheah Ching Mooi, the chief financial officer of Asiatic Development Bhd. Last year's gold winner, HSBC Malaysia deputy chairman and CEO Irene Dorner, came in as the second runner-up.
Gerald Michael Ambrose, managing director from Aberdeen Asset Management Sdn Bhd, was declared as the best dressed CEO.
Open Team, Men's & Women's Open categories
Not surprisingly, Fitness First Asia emerged as the champion in the 4.5km Open Team Race. Personal trainer Shaun Measday quipped: "If we didn't go home with a gold medal, we would be going home in total shame" and they will be back to defend the title in "lycra".
Last year's third-place finisher, Korea Exchange senior manager Dae Chun Kim, finished first in this year men's Open Race. Dae, who flew in specially from Korea, had been training by running every day in his home country.
Bursa Malaysia regulatory policy and advisory senior manager Sharon Barbosa, who came in first in the female Open race category, was surprised by the win as it was her first race ever. "I'm not really a runner but I started training in November."
Despite her lack of race experience, her athleticism shone through as she beat her colleague and veteran runner Nooraliza Ali, who came in second.
Mixed Team, Mixedcategories, Best Dressed Team & Best Cheerleading CIMB won the mixed team category, while Accenture Solutions Sdn Bhd came in second, followed by HSBC Malaysia. CIMB clearing clerk T Eswaran Tamby was the winner in the men's section of the individual mixed category, while HSBC's Michele Tan topped the women's section.
GE, a main sponsor of the ongoing Olympic Games, was declared the Best Dressed Team, impressing the judges and spectators with their colourful costumes that came with Olympic mascot headgears.
"It was a first-time win for me and it was pretty fun and exciting to win this award,"said GE Southeast Asia medical director Dr Abed Onn.
Celcom was the first runner-up, while Kuwait Finance House, a Silver Sponsor of the race, came in as the second runner-up.
For the cheerleading category, IJM Corporation Bhd emerged tops. Sunrise Bhd came in second place, while Dijaya was placed third. |
