Together lets make it
a winner
Syukur Alhamdullilah, once again we meet
on this page to continue our mission to promote our beloved
country through this sports tourism event that is now world
famous and recognised as the fifth biggest race in the world
and the biggest in Asia.
Once again this year we create history
with a record 150 riders contesting the race, representing 30
countries, all part of a record 25 teams. The race covers a
total of 1,377 kilometres, passing through 10 states from Kedah,
Perlis, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Johore,
Pahang and ends in Kuala Lumpur.
We would like to thank YB Datuk Seri Azalina
Othman Said, the Youth and Sports Minister of Malaysia, as well
as the Government for their approval to stage this huge programme.
Le tour de Langkawi's family had been immediately activated,
as soon as YB Datuk Seri Azalina had announced that the Government
had agreed to organise the event in cooperation with the Malaysian
National Cycling Federation.
I am grateful to Allah SWT because the
YB Minister had given me the trust to captain the journey of
Le Tour de Langkawi 2008. Coupled with the guidance and leadership
of Datuk Nik Mahmud Nik Yusof as the chairman of the LTdL organising
committee, I believe we will be able to deliver on our duties
and responsibilities well.
Armed with the experience of heading LTdL
in 2007 as its chief operating officer, I had gained more confidence
and strength in conducting my duties. Surely, with that there
are hopes of achieving a bigger success.
Apart from promoting the country within
our own region and all over the world, I was given a directive
to ensure that the development of cycling in the country receives
as much attention and returns that justify the expenditure of
the Government for us to host this event. The performances of
our riders will also be closely monitored in order for us to
work towards success in the race that we organise.
We are required to generate more
involvement from the public, particularly residents in areas
hosting starts and finishes, as well as spectators all along
the race route. This has to become a people friendly race. The
locals must also benefit from what we plan, in the form of services,
education or economic growth.
Apart from promoting the country
and its beauty to the eyes of the world, our hope is for Le
Tour de Langkawi to play a role in further enhancing the unity
within the multi-racial society in the country through such
activities. Through systematic and planned organising, responsibly,
every sen of taxpayers funds spent on the race, can generate
multiple amounts in returns to the society.
Honestly, it is not an easy task to pull
more than 20 departments together and also more than 20 contractors
to ensure the success of this programme. It sure needs thorough
supervision and coordination, a deep understanding and qualification.
I am thankful that many among the Le Tour de Langkawi workforce
have a warrior's spirit and strong determination to solve all
issues.
More than 1,600 people will be directly involved in the running
of the race and more than 3,000 more will be involved in activities
at State and district level. This high spirit of volunteerism
shows that the spirit of gotong-royong and unity within the
Malaysian people is still alive and well.
A total of 450 vehicles will form the
race convoy, comprising team cars, support vans, official cars,
police and marshall motorcycles, safety and medical services,
bagage trucks, TV production and media vehicles, the cavalcade
for sponsors right up to the "broom wagon". The convoy
that spans 10 kilometres can sometimes bring about complications
to the road using public. Thus, I seek the cooperation of the
entire road using public towards the success of this national
project.
At each stop, a total of 600 to 700 hotel
rooms have to be prepared, along with breakfast, lunch and dinner
for the whole entourage. Supported by the local communities,
I expect that we will able to generate revenue exchange and
sales of more than RM200,000 at each location. This will somewhat
help in the growth of local economies.
With extensive coverage of the race provided
by 60 members of the local and foreign press who will be following
the race, news of the race will reach over 600 million viewers
and listeners worldwide, and the review and highlights shows
scheduled every half an hour on each of the nine days of LTdL
2008, more than 200 million viewers in Asia, Europe, Oceania,
Africa and the Americas will be exposed to the race. TV Viewers
worldwide will be able to see for themselves the beauty of our
landscape and the friendliness of our people.
Urban and rural communities have the chance
to see right before their eyes the performances of the world
class field of riders, which includes some of our own riders.
In this 13th edition, the beauty
of our beaches will be exposed. From Penang to Setiawan and
Lumut, Damai Laut and Telok Batek, Banting, Port Dickson, Desaru,
Teluk Ramunia, Tanjong Sedili, Mersing, up to Kuala rompin on
the East Coast, our coastal beauty will be on show. And for
the first time, the resort of Fraser's Hill will be included
as the main climb on the eighth stage of the race.
The success of Le Tour de Langkawi is
the success of us all, thanks to the cooperation, assistance
and support of the Federal Government and its agencies, the
State Governments, local authorities, district councils, the
Pilice, Armed Forces, Fire and Rescue Department, RELA, the
Malaysian National Cycling Federation and its affiliates, Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGOs), the corporate sponsors and the people
of Malaysia from all walks of life.
If we consider that each Malaysian had
contributed one ringgit into this project, then the returns
are hundred fold. Its benefits to the country cannot be valued
in such a short time because this programme is to promote the
country and returns will be seen only in the long run. The entire
workforce of LTdL is thankful for the opportunity to contribute
to the event and the success of this mammoth task.
Each of us wants glory and success. within
the efforts put into our services towards this event, we hope
that all of us are part of a victory. For sure we want today
to be better than yesterday, and this year's Tour to be better
than last year's. So, Let's Make it a Winner!
Datuk Naim Mohamad
Chief Operating Officer,
Le Tour de Langkawi 2008.
Handphone: 6012 6887767
E mail : dtknaim@gmail.com
|
BACK TO MAIN |
|
