FAT MALAYSIA!! JOIN COBC, RUN MALAKOFF PENANG RACE AND REDUCE THE FAT STATISTICS

Did you know that Malaysian is the fattest country in the South East Asia? According to a statistics from the National Health and Morbidity Surveys, 15.1% of Malaysians aged 18 and above were suffering from obesity as of 2011 which is a 14% increase as compared to the same demographic in 2006. It was also reported that over 2.6 million adults were obese while over 477,000 children below the age of 18 years were overweight. Malaysia Minister of Health Dato Seri Liow Tiong Lai said, Malaysia are outweighing our Asean neighbors and number 6 (fattest) in the whole of Asia - behind some middle eastern countries. Nicholas Cheng from the Star newspaper has the full report at HERE.

As part of our corporate social responsibility to overcome this Fat Malaysia crisis, we co-sponsor the Malakoff Race series including the forthcoming Malakoff Penang 17km run on 17th March 2013.

Corporal (COBC) Kenny in Penang representing COBC, Malaysia at the Malakoff Press Conference.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH ABDUL AZIZAM

Abdul Azizam, a Sabahan and a worldwide Ahmadiyaa muslim community missionary moved to Penang in 2010 and probably had the shock of his life with Penang food delight that saw his weight prospering to a whopping 98kg... 2kg short of hitting the 3 digit weight level. It did not help too with Abdul Azizam or more fondly known on facebook as Sam Kaola's passion in cooking!! He did not just love to eat but he also loves to cook... a deadly combination. When an average Penangite would go clubbing at night or layparking by the beach, Azizam would go restaurant-hopping trying out various food ports available in the island. Infact, Azizam kept a chart and list of best eateries in every part of Penang (hah.. now we know who to contact for food in Penang). While others who landed in Penang would visit all the historical and tourist attraction sites, Azizam would be exploring all restaurants and that was exactly what he did when his family visited him in Penang from Sabah. He brought them to eat all around the island as oppose to bringing them site-touring that little island.

Abdul Azizam never gave up during his training

MAKANSUTRA- KHUNTHAI RESTAURANT- PENANG!!

If ever you are exhausted of ideas on where to eat.. or feels like experimenting food... or do not know what to eat.. you can send SOS to the food-finder Sarge (COBC) Boon!!! If ever there are excess food to eat.. do not put it to waste, call COBC Food-Slut USJ1-Delta Tan Wee Liam. If ever there are good food to share... you know where to find me!! I completely trust Sarge Boon's taste in food having put on a few kilograms in weight everytime Sarge Boon introduced us to a new dining place and again, my trip to Penang ended with a big huge hooyah feast.

Shortly before bidding farewell to Penang after officiating its Convent Green Lane School alumni and attending Penang COBC party, we crossed the longest bridge in Malaysia and the fourth longest in Southeast Asia to 104, Jalan Permatang Tengah, 12300 Butterworth. For location map, see below:

It was quite a distance drive from Hard Rock Hotel to the Khun Thai Restaurant but we made it there within 30 minutes drive on an empty stomach.

COBC: FEBRUARY 2012 OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

Due to the Chinese New Year traveling, many had requested for an extension in the Early Bird discount for February registration. We understand and had extended the Early Bird Discount (EBD) to 29 January 2012. All payment must be received before the 29 January 2012 to qualify for the early bird discount. We are pleased to provide you with 38 platoons at 7 different location in 3 states. The updated list for February 2012 platoons are as follows:

Note: 
MC12: Military Corps 12 sessions training per month - 3x a week for 4 weeks (RM299) EBD RM249
MC8: Military Corps 8 sessions training per month - 2x a week for 4 weeks (RM199) EBD RM149

Payment:
Credit Cards or Online Bank transfer (to CIMB 1258-000-261-5059/ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP) only.

PENANG CHINGAY, LION AND DRAGON DANCE PARADE 2011

It was a sheer bonus for us to be in Penang to coincidentally discover the annual Penang Chingay, Lion and dragon dance parade that was held on 17 December 2011. We were there for food Penang CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP (COBC) inaugural graduation beach party, COBC training at Padang Polo and for a meeting with the Penang Skill Development Centre. From a 3 in 1 visit, it became a .. err 5 in 1.. including the Makansutra!!

At the graduation party, the Chingay and Lion dance parade became the topic of conversation amongst the Penang'ites. During one of the group chat with Rohan from Korea, Jennifer, Phat Ling, Phaik San (did I miss anyone?) described Chingay as a 6 foot pole balancing art on the forehead which I initially mistaken it as Pole Dancing.. I mean.. the Chinese sort of pole dancing.. not so kinky eh.. aiiks. Chingay taken from Chinese dialect Hokkien, in pronunciation as Chin Yi means True Art. For more details on Chingay Parade, click HERE.

Chingay that was originated in China, was first performed in Penang in 1919 during deity processions. It is a street art where the performer balances a giant flag that ranges from 30 ft to 35 ft in height and about 60 pounds in weight. Over the years, the local Chinese had improvised the Chingay performance. From a basic giant flag balancing by a solo performer, Chingay became a team performance that consists of more than 15 persons in a troupe. 

PENANG ALPHA: A WORKOUT TOO GOOD

After completing 12 MakanSutra at various positions and locations in a day, we almost but did not miss the COBC training at Polo Alpha platoon. 9 of us from the 23 recruits and instructors from Central Region that attended Penang COBC Grad party stayed back purposely to eat attend Sarge (COBC) (P) Boon's alpha session. We planned to arrive late to give "KL-Grunts-Souvenir" for the Penang Platoon and thought of not coming in our COBC grey tee but we did not want to be cruel. So here we are.. all very early, in uniform but the Penang'ite gave us the Grunts-Souvenir instead by not wearing the grey Tshirt!! haiiih.. Thank you for the kind hospitality.

Having met with most islander during the Penang COBC Party at HERE, we can only conclude that they are really a shy bunch as compared to KL'ites. When the KL'ites party.. including the instructors.. they went all wild.

We hear rumours, penang'ites are a real camwhores.. so we stayed back after the alpha session, all sweaty, slutty and ready to camwhore... There were Dr Malek Aziz, Angela Loo, Lizza Abdul Rahim, Nawal Aini Zulkifli, Farhanah Bamadhaj, Maslina Ahmad Ismail, Rienna Choo and Ruzana Ibrahim but when the session ended.. everyone disappeared!! and only the nine stooges from KL were standing waiting to be photo-shoot.. oh shoot.

COBC PENANG HOTBODS PARTY: BANANA BOYS

One weekend down South and another up North and then again down South and up North.. Somehow, these domestic traveling seemed inevitable with little trip being made to the east coast, my own home town. Before the weekend, my cousin wati was married to ASP Hussein in Kelantan but I was engaged with PROTON annual convention and had to give it a miss. Otherwise, it would have been, down South, East Coast, up North and down South again.

It began with a good unprecedented move to bercanda di atas beca (moments on trishaw).. err actually it was to avoid Penang's impossible traffic. Traffic jam should be synonyms with KL'ites but traffic in Penang was near impossible! Traffic in KL would slowly flow bumper to bumper which was caused by a high number of vehicles on the road but traffic in Penang was a complete stopped and stalled, bumper to bumper with no movement at all due to the traffic light. If there is one thing that Penang needs, it must be in a city ring-road-fly-over or a bypass without the traffic light (take note Guan Eng).

The moments on trishaw was err.. mesmerizing until the picture appeared on Facebook and within seconds.. the first comment from the dozens, read out...

FRUSTRATING PENANG BRIDGE INTERNATIONAL MARATHON

The Penang Bridge International Marathon was earlier cancelled to much of our despair. We looked forward every year to the Penang Bridge run. We enjoyed the run last year and had vowed to be a permanent participant of the event.

We left for Penang on Saturday after work. Abu drove my car and cruised comfortably at 120km per hour. We stopped by for lunch @ Tapah to carbo-load with a chicken rice. My sister, Emi and friends had left a day earlier. We reached Penang at 5pm and had an early carbo-load dinner before retiring at 9pm. The race starts at 4:30am and the registration starts at 3:15am but we must reach the starting point @ the Queensbay Mall by 2am at the latest since all access road to the Queensbay Mall will be closed thenafter. We woke up at 11pm to get ready for the race and left home at 1am with barely 2 hours of good sleep.

The event had attracted thousands of local, international and school student participants. Although it is a new organiser that organises this year’s Penang Bridge International Marathon event, I recognised the same race marshals and many coordinators from last year and other race-events.

I have participated in more than 20 running events since I adopted running as a hobby and I must say that this year’s Penang Bridge International Marathon event was poorly manage. Although the event organiser is new, I am certain the organiser has the experience in organising running events. Hydration is very important while and after running or athlete may experience hyperthermia or dehydration which is hazardous and can even lead to death. Thus, water station and water availability is a basic necessity in all running event. During the event, almost ALL water station either run out of water or paper cups. The organisers of the Penang Bridge International Marathon FAILED to observe the basic necessity of a race event similar to the Adidas King of the Road race in Shah Alam. I saw many school children and athletes suffered from thirst and could not continue the race.

While the road is packed and congested with thousands of runners, the marshals and volunteers were happily cruising slowly with their motorcycles ala VIP, choking and polluting the runners with their motorcycle exhaust fume. Some runners were coughing endlessly everytime the white shirt marshal on motorcycle passes by.

Running events are organised to promote healthy lifestyle as an encouragement to everybody. It is a good paradigm shift to see Malaysian from all walk of race and age participating in running events. The authority should make it a default requirement for all organisers to ensure sufficient water at all water stations and to FORBID all vehicles from entering the race route (including the marshals and volunteer vehicles).

Adding salt to injury, participants who completed the race with insufficient water and pollution from the marshals exhaust fume had to ‘cool-down’ under the hot sun with no shades or camp. The Queensbay Mall was guarded army-styled by the securities prohibiting ALL participants from entering the Mall. There were NO CAMPS or SHADES provided for the finishers and supporters to shelter away from the heat and hot sun. Camps were only provided for the sponsors and volunteers. Even if the budget was tight (if not wanting to maximise profit from the event), the organiser should at least speak to the Queensbay Mall to allow participants into the mall. Being dehydrated from lack of water supply and exposed to UVA/B or possible skin cancer from the sun, i gave Penang Bridge International Marathon organiser a thumb down.

Despite the many flaws of the organiser, I had a funtabulous time simply because of my love for running. Will I be back for next year’s Penang bridge run? Maybe..........…….