Friday 29 Mar 2024
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This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on October 21, 2015.

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Gamuda Bhd

Corporate responsibility (CR) is not merely an exercise in kindness for Gamuda but is part of the company’s philosophy.

From implementing a performance assessment system for contractors to rewarding employees for their environment-conscious habits, the company is well-versed in ensuring its CR initiatives are sustainable.

Gamuda is of the view that sustainability is key for any CR effort to make a significant impact.

Gamuda’s two teams, which will be hitting the road for The Edge Kuala Lumpur Rat Race 2015 in the open and mixed category, said the race is a sustainable way of giving back to society.

“It is definitely a great mode for charity,” a team member said in a reply to The Edge.

“This platform accomplishes many good outcomes in terms of setting a reminder to corporate society and public to care for the people.

“Instead of a one-off monetary contribution, it is a more sustainable way of contributing back to the society,” the team member adds.

Gamuda’s first participated in The Edge Kuala Lumpur Rat Race last year.

This year, the Gamuda #SWEAT squad, as the teams would like to be known as, is bigger and stronger.

“Get ready to meet our fresh faces!” one of the team members says.

The teams have even conceptualised a form of practice to get in shape for the race, called #SWEAT’s 3T practice — Training, Teamwork, Telling.

“Training — ensure we are both mentally and physically conditioned to give our best,” a team member explains.

“Teamwork — encourage and support team members to excel, while not forgetting to have fun with our colleagues.

“Telling — spread the awareness about the race to encourage more support from the public.”

 

 

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CIMB Investment Bank Bhd

This year’s Rat Race marks the second run for CIMB group chief executive officer (CEO) Tengku Datuk Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz in the CEO category.

“Last year was my first run as CEO of CIMB and I remember that the environment was highly charged with the spirit of friendly competition, while we were having fun working together to raise funds for deserving charities,” he says.

Tengku Zafrul says The Edge Kuala Lumpur Rat Race is a good platform to induce top management to take a few moments out of their busy schedules for a good cause.

“This is what inspires me to keep coming back. Futhermore, I enjoy keeping fit!” he says.

Team leader Kuljeet Singh, who is also running in the Rat Race for the second time, says Tengku Zafrul joins in the team workouts that take place twice a month.

“He is such a fitness enthusiast and we work hard to keep up with him,” Kuljeet says. He says last year’s race was memorable due to the unity forged between team members.

“There is something about the energy of the members that binds us to one another — you feel you can go that extra mile, just when you think you don’t have any more energy left in the tank to cross the finish line,” he says.

 

 

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KNM Group Bhd 

This will be the fourth year that KNM Group Bhd will be participating in The Edge Kuala Lumpur Rat Race.

KNM Group finance director Tan Koon Ping said the company is of the view that the race is a healthy and friendly competition in the name of charity.

“So, there is no pressure at all. In fact, we are excited to be part of the affair — and it is a good break from work too,” he says.

“As management representatives in the company, we are motivated to set a good example in the spirit of togetherness in support of meaningful causes.

“It is a good concept as top management should lead by example to promote a culture where supporting charities by giving monetary donations and time is just as important,” he adds.

Tan will be running alongside KNM Group director Soh Yoke Yan in the CEO category while two teams will be running in the mixed category.

The team members say that despite having a busy lifestyle, they are training hard to prepare themselves for the race.

“It is important to show everyone that we as an organisation can compete with others, in anything that we set our minds to,” a team member says.

“Raising money for charity can give purpose to the run and serve as a goal to work towards.”

 

 

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KPMG

KPMG executive director Nik Anira Nik Mohd Zain will be running in the CEO Race for the first time — and she is really looking forward to it.

“I like the concept of racing in office attire. We don’t just work hard, we play hard too,” she says. “I believe in these words: Nothing can substitute for experience.”

Nik Anira is proud to be representing her firm, which she says is a motivating factor for her. The CEO Race, she adds, can make top management of corporate firms eat humble pie. “They need to be brought down to earth at times.”

Nik Anira will be running alongside KPMG partner Mohd Khaidzir Shahari in the CEO Race. The accounting firm is also sending a team for the mixed category and the members are excited to be doing their bit for charity while having fun.

 

 

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Axis Real Estate Investment Trust

Axis REIT has been taking part in The Edge Kuala Lumpur Rat Race since 2011, and this year promises to deliver all the goods of the previous races.

Axis REIT assistant finance manager Stacy Cheng says she keeps entering the race as she enjoys the feeling of running in the city and immersing herself in the moment.

Cheng is serious about running. And she is somewhat of a consistent champ, scoring the first runner-up position in the open female category in 2012 and the third runner-up spot in the same category last year.

“I run 6km four days a week to maintain my stamina, and Axis REIT conducts a qualifying run to choose the runners,” she says.

“I think the concept of running for charity is good for the community and healthy for the participants,” she adds.

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