MALACCA: State officials here aim to promote a healthy lifestyle by leaving their cars and chauffeurs at home and cycling to work.
The chief minister, state executive councillors and government department heads will pedal to Seri Negeri, the official administration hub of the state government, tomorrow.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam will lead the group of senior state officials.
“This Friday, I intend to cycle from my Seri Bendahara official residence to work and I hope my other colleagues will also do so,” he said after chairing the weekly state exco meeting here yesterday.
Mohd Ali said it was in line with the state government's Jom Basikal campaign to promote a healthy lifestyle apart from realising the state's aim to be known as a Green Technology City by 2020.
“This is the first step and we hope that staff from other state government departments and agencies would emulate us,” he said.
To encourage more Malaccans to start cycling, the state government has decided to construct special lanes for the public near Seri Negeri.
Mohd Ali said work on the lane will start today and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“This will be the first bicycle lane in the state and more areas will have such lanes in the future,” he said, adding that the campaign would go statewide when the programme is launched for members of the public on July 7.
Mohd Ali also announced that Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would make a one-day working trip to the state on July 4.
He will have breakfast with traders, taxi drivers and the public at Melaka Sentral market.
Muhyiddin will also go to Jonker Walk, meet trishaw riders and dine with the Nyonya and Portuguese communities before ending his visit at SJKC Machap where he will attend a 1Malaysia dinner at about 8.30pm.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/30/nation/8999707&sec=nation