To be held on Sunday, May 14, the 5th Ipoh International Waiters Race is organised by the Malaysian Association of Hotel (MAH Perak Chapter) in collaboration with Perak Tourism Association and Tourism Perak.
“Last year, we had a record-breaking number of 420 participants for this signature event. This year, we target for more, with at least 120 international participants. Kinta Riverfront, brimming with places of worship such as mosques and temples, reflects the unity of the community. It’s an ideal location for the race and would help promote the surroundings,” said Dato’ Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi, the Executive Councillor for Tourism, Arts, Culture, Multimedia and Communications during its official launch on Wednesday, March 22 at River Walk, Kinta Riverfront. There have been participations from Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore, China and Macau.
“The Ipoh International Waiters Race is first of its kind in Malaysia. It is also listed in the national tourism calendar. In the early days, the Kinta riverfront was vibrant. Among the prominent early settlements thriving on the banks of Kinta River were Kampung Paloh, Kampung Ipoh and Kampung Masjid Lama. It was said that Ipoh was founded in the first quarter of the 16th century. The river was wide then and small ships were able to navigate upstream. River Walk @ Kinta Riverfront should bring back this vibrancy. Hence, we choose this spot as the race venue this year,” said Raja Kamal Bashah bin Raja Abu Bakar, organising chairman of the 5th Ipoh International Waiters Race.
This upcoming 1.2-km race will begin at 7.30am. The route will pass by the iconic Gunung Cheroh. Open to individual men and women, it is divided into the following categories: Category A (Hotel – professional) and Category B (Open – restaurants, cafés, pubs, bistros, hospitality schools and the public). Top five individuals in Category A will take home RM2000, RM1500, RM750, RM500 and RM300, respectively. The top five winners in Category B will win RM1500, RM1000, RM700, RM400 and RM300 each.
Present were Maggie Ong, chairman MAH Perak Chapter, Zuraida binti Md Taib, CEO Tourism Perak, Hj Mohd Odzman bin Abdul Kadir, President Perak Tourism Association, former mayor Dato’ Haji Roshidi bin Hashim and members of the press.
The race was first held in 2013 at D R Seenivasagam Park. Competitors of the race have to complete the race as fast as possible (via speed walking only) while holding a tray on one hand until crossing the finishing line with as much of liquid and tray items intact. This year, the organisers are designing packages for participants to stay and visit nearby tourist destinations with M Bike giving a good rate for their Ipoh Heritage ride.
Interested readers must submit their application forms no later than Sunday, April 30 to the secretariat at Syeun Hotel Berhad at No. 88, Jalan Sultan Abdul Jalil, Greentown, 30300 Ipoh or online via www.ipohwaitersrace.net. Entry fee of RM50 per person must be paid together with the application form before Sunday, April 30. Payment method by cash or by cheque made to Persatuan Hotel Malaysia Cawangan Perak with account number 1033008797 (UOB Bank, United Overseas Bank Berhad).
For more information visit www.ipohwaitersrace.net or the Facebook page: Ipoh International Waiters Race. Readers also can call the secretariat office at 05 255 9310.
Mei Kuan
