Torch run honour

Excitement builds up as the Olympic flame heads for Kuala Lumpur.

WHO would you carry a torch for? We all have our candidates, but for most of us, we wouldn’t do it literally, it’s just an expression after all. But come Monday, there will be 80 select individuals who will be carrying a torch.

Malaysia, and specifically Kuala Lumpur, has been chosen to be one of the stages of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay. The torch arrives in KL from Bangkok before proceeding to Jakarta. The other South-East Asian city participating is Ho Chi Minh City.

It is a rare privilege, for the only other time KL hosted a leg of the relay was way back in 1964 when Tokyo was host.

Among the privileged individuals is former Malaysian Ambassador to China, Datuk Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, who ended his term there in 2005 after eight years of service. When contacted by The Star, Abdul Majid said he was excited and honoured that the Chinese Embassy had nominated him. He added that his children were also thrilled with his participation and had advised him to train for the event.

“I’m quite fit and it’s just a very short distance that I have to carry the torch. In my younger days, I used to play badminton and basketball. Now I’m an avid golfer,” he said with a laugh.

Abdul Majid noted that despite his retirement, he was still active in promoting and enhancing the relationship between Malaysia and China. As president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, he had organised many cultural events to help strengthen the ties between the two countries.

Former Malaysian Ambassador to China, Datuk Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan: ‘I’m quite fit and it’s just a very short distance that I have to carry the torch.’

He recalled that in 2002, while in Beijing, he had helped bring some former Chinese artistes residing in the United States, to perform at the Great Wall. It was to help in China’s bid for the Olympics.

Abdul Majid is still unsure if he will catch the Games in August. He said his eldest son is working in Beijing and was lucky enough to obtain tickets for the opening ceremony and a few other events.

Controversy has surrounded the torch relay, with pro-Tibet protesters trying to disrupt the process along every leg of the run. “The Olympics is a sporting event and the torch is a symbol of everything the Games represent – unity and the human ability and spirit. It is an avenue for players, individuals and governments to come together and share a common goal. It is not right for these protesters to jeopardise something that people have worked at and trained hard for, for so many years.

“This is not the platform for politics and issues. There are other avenues for that,” said Abdul Majid.

He said the Chinese Government had worked hard to make the event a success and to uphold the spirit and ideals of the Games. Abdul Majid said they were doing their utmost to make this a real green Olympics.

Buddhist chief high priest of Malaysia Venerable Reverend K. Sri Dhammaratana said political issues have no place in the Beijing Olympics.

“The Games is a sports event that promotes the message of peace.

Among Malaysians chosen for the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay are: (from top) Bryan Nickson Lomas, Shalin Zulkifli, former swimmer Lim Keng Liat, former athlete Marina Chin, and OCM president Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar who will start off the relay.

“It stands as an international symbol of compassion and non-violence. The negative feelings generated by some people in London, Paris and San Francisco, for example, should be avoided, especially in our multi-racial and multi-religious country. Let compassion be our guiding light and non-violence, our way of life,” said Sri Dhammaratana, who has invited religious leaders around the country, including Tibetan monks, to join in prayer for peace in Tibet and the success of the Olympic Games.

Internal Security and Public Order deputy director Senior Asst Comm (I) Datuk Jamaludin Khalid said all the necessary precautions have been made to ensure nothing disrupts the 16.5km torch relay and that it runs smoothly.

He added that they would look at four aspects: the security of the torchbearers; the relay route which will be cordoned off; public safety; and traffic in the vicinity. A total of 600 police personnel will be involved in the exercise.

According to Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary-general Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, besides the OCM, the Chinese Embassy, Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Police are represented in the committee coordinating the relay.

OCM has nominated 58 torchbearers; four comes from the Chinese Embassy here, and the three participating partners, Coca-Cola, Samsung and Lenovo, gave six names each.

While 80 individuals have been chosen, the full list will only be made available on Saturday. They are literally the glitterati among the nation’s sporting community and also prominent personalities who have contributed to the close ties between Malaysia and the host nation China.

Some names are already known and it’s not surprising to see badminton having a heavy representation, having contributed the nation’s only medals in the Olympics so far. The Sidek brothers, Razif, Jailani and Rashid, and former top men’s doubles pair Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock, are the shuttlers on the list.

Other outstanding athletes are world number one women’s squash player Nicol David, diver Bryan Nickson Lomas, bowler Shalin Zulkifli, former swimmers Lim Keng Liat and Nurul Huda Abdullah, football great Datuk Soh Chin Aun and hurdle queen Marina Chin.

Sports leaders past and present include Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah. OCM president Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar will start off the relay. The last torch-bearer has not been confirmed.

The relay will start at 2pm from Dataran Merdeka and end at KLCC. Among the roads/landmarks the Olympic flame will be passing through are Jalan Mahameru, Stadium Merdeka, Bukit Bintang and Jalan Tun Razak.

It is an historic occasion and for most of us, the closest we will ever get to a venerated symbol of the sporting world. Make time if you can to catch the Olympic flame.

Star