Sabah Strongest Man 2012

Bigger prize money awaits

KOTA KINABALU: More prize money is up for grabs at this weekend’s Sabah Strongest Man Challenge 2012 at Padang Merdeka here.

Besides increasing the prize money for the top three winners in each of the six class strongest man disciplines, local strength sports athletes also stand the chance to walk home with additional cash incentives.

Thanks to the generosity of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) who has surprisingly stepped in to give the organiser Casero Events a helping hand.

MACC Sabah Director Jalil Jaafar said they will sponsor the cash prizes worth more than RM4,000, which will be up for grabs among the local winners.

On top of the prizes to the top eight overall winners, the local competitors will now stand to win an additional RM1,000, RM800 and RM500 respectively.

These prizes are only for the top three winners overall (for local).

The side cash prizes for top three winners in each of the six disciplines has also been increased from RM100 to RM150 for the winner, RM50 to RM100 for second place and RM30 to RM50 for third place. This is all courtesy of MACC.

Jalil said MACC’s objective in joining the event is to use it as a platform to promote the commission, and to create awareness among the public on its roles and functions.

“We want to promote and explain the function and roles of the commission to the public through the use of exhibition booths and mini clinics at the OKS 2012.

“We want the public to know what MACC is about. We feel that collaborating with associations and the community in social and recreational programmes such as this would help us to gain confidence from the public in our efforts to transform our approach towards the prevention of corruption,” said Jalil.

Jalil also said that MACC will also be giving away hampers to those who join some of their games during the two-day event.

“Among some of the fun activities we will have, is a colouring contest for children between 6 and 10.

“It will be held on Saturday at 1pm and will be limited to only 20 entries so parents who want their kids to join must sign-up quickly,” said Jalil.

“We also have other games which we call Spin and Win, Info Hunter, Relax and Win (Santai & Menang) and more,” he added.

Jalil hoped the public would turn up in numbers with their friends and families so to enjoy the event and to take the opportunity to find out more about MACC and/or other government departments and agencies that will be on hand to showcase and explain their roles and services to the public.

MACC’s booths and counters will be open at 8am to 6pm, while the main event is scheduled to start at 10am on Saturday, before the official opening by Mayor, Datuk Abidin Madingkir at 2pm.

Meanwhile, former Suria FM deejay Othoe, who led Casero Events in its meeting with MACC at the latter’s office at the Federal Administration Complex along Jalan UMS on Tuesday, hoped that this effort by the MACC would help inspire the local contestants to join the challenge and compete to the best of their ability.