46,000 Samarahan residents take part in National Sports Day

ASAJAYA : More than 46,000 residents across Samarahan Division have participated in various activities held in conjunction with the division-level National Sports Day celebration.

Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang said the turnout represented more than 25 per cent of Samarahan’s total population, reflecting the community’s commitment to adopting a healthy lifestyle.

She stressed that National Sports Day was not meant to be a one-day affair, but a catalyst for making sports and physical activity a lifelong habit.

“Through sports, we can maintain optimum mental and physical fitness.

“When our minds and bodies are strong and active, all social and economic programmes can be executed effectively,” she said when officiating at the Samarahan Division National Sports Day opening ceremony at Dewan Kampung Moyan Laut here today (Oct 17).

Rubiah, who is also Kota Samarahan MP, cautioned against the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases—such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart complications—among younger age groups due to increasingly sedentary routines.

“Many people nowadays spend long hours sitting at office desks or remaining inactive at home. These lifestyle habits hinder proper bodily functions and lead to health issues such as obesity,” she said.

To counter these risks, she urged residents to maintain consistent daily physical activity—even through simple exercises like walking or jogging around their neighbourhoods—rather than waiting for organized events.

She also called on village headmen, local committees, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to continuously host community sports activities.

To support these grassroots initiatives, Rubiah reiterated that the government remains committed to upgrading basic sports facilities, including community halls and playing fields in rural villages.

In addition to sports competitions, the division-level celebration featured a Jualan RAHMAH MADANI sales programme aimed at helping local residents ease their daily cost of living, which received an overwhelming public response.