Neow completes first leg of 290km run for DAK campaign

IPOH - Secretariat coordinator of the Dara, Amoi and Kelat (DAK) campaign, Neow Choo Seong, today completed the first leg of a 290-kilometre solo run from Taiping to Parliament in Kuala Lumpur aimed at highlighting animal welfare issues involving three elephants currently housed at Tennoji Zoo in Japan.

Despite suffering a knee injury during the run, Neow, 41, completed 50 kilometres on the opening day, setting off from Taiping at 5am and arriving at Dataran Ipoh at about 6.50pm.

The original target for the day was 60 kilometres, but he shortened the distance after sustaining the injury.

"However, it did not dampen my spirit to continue. After taking a short break and receiving treatment, I resumed the run from Chemor to Ipoh,” he told reporters after completing the day's run.

Neow said the route through Taiping, Kuala Kangsar, Padang Rengas and Ipoh posed a significant challenge due to its hilly and winding terrain.

He said he would seek further treatment tonight and take pain medication if necessary to reach Parliament before the start of the Dewan Rakyat sitting on June 22.

"I want to deliver the DAK message and remain determined to complete the run before the opening day of the Dewan Rakyat meeting,” he said.

A petition on the issue will be submitted to Parliament on the first day of the sitting for lawmakers to debate, he added.

Neow is scheduled to continue his run from Ipoh to Kampar tomorrow before attending a session with students and animal welfare advocates at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Kampar. - BERNAMA