KUALA LUMPUR - Former journalist Che Saad Nordin has already embarked on his annual Peninsular Malaysia Merdeka Cycling Expedition in conjunction with National Month, a tradition he started in 2015.
Che Saad, 74, started his expedition on Aug 2 at Padang Serai, Kedah, and is expected to conclude his mission on Sept 16 in Perlis, covering a distance of 2,300 kilometres.
When contacted, Che Saad, who has worked for various news organisations including Bernama, said he plans to cycle an average of 80 km per day, depending on the weather and his health.
He will be accompanied by other cyclists at various points along his journey.
After leaving Padang Serai, he headed to Baling and Gerik. He will then enter Kelantan and proceed to Terengganu and Pahang before reaching Johor.
"On the night of Aug 30, I will be in Melaka to celebrate National Day (Aug 31) in Bandar Hilir with a group of cyclists there.
"After that, I will continue cycling to Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Penang and Kedah before reaching the final destination in Kuala Perlis on Malaysia Day," he said.
Che Saad, who has 10 grandchildren, said for this ride, he is using an old bicycle purchased from a friend. The bicycle has been modified and fitted with new tyres and gears to suit long-distance cycling.
"Throughout the ride, I will be distributing small flags (of Malaysia) and aim to hand out at least 100 flags to schoolchildren in each state. If the opportunity arises, I will set aside a little time to give talks to inspire them to be patriotic," he added.
When asked about his motivation to cycle at his age, he said it is a personal obligation to honour the country's past heroes who were willing to sacrifice for the nation.
"My late father Noordin Abdullah was a member of the Special Constables, established during the Emergency as a result of the communist insurgency around the 1950s.
"The stories of past struggles, including my father’s, have left a deep impression on me. These are the stories I will share with the younger generation throughout this ride so they can learn from them," he added. - BERNAMA