A community drive Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad organised over the weekend to fete journalists on its 40th anniversary had a peek into the era of the 40s in then Malaya.
All the 160 participants were required to don the attire of the 40s to play two games in Kampung Agong in Penang during the treasure hunt from Sungai Buloh in Selangor to Bertam in the northern state.
Most of the hunters, coming from 22 media agencies, dutifully obliged except for a few who could not make it in time to the homestay village, having lost the battle to the unusually heavy traffic inching north on that Malaysia Day.
The 'survivors' had fun in the sun trying to hit a rattan stick simulating the traditional game of Kaunda Kaundi or Perik Mata and managing a slow cycling manoeuvre at the village where a high tea was served to all participants.
Sustainability was also a feature of the community drive, which was held in collaboration with Kelab Kakitangan Bernama, the staff club of the Malaysian National News Agency.
The participants were also given the opportunity to try their hand at sowing, planting and harvesting vegetables at Hygrow Farm Ville in Gopeng where the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) has a resource centre that portrays the future of farming technology, highlighting modern farming techniques, such as hydroponics and aquaponics.
Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil. Aquaponics is a food production system that couples aquaculture, or the breeding of fish in a closed environment, with hydroponics.
Entrepreneur Joe Jalil was on hand at Hygrow Farm Ville, adjacent to the Rural Transformation Centre (RTC) in Gopeng, to assist the hunters and explain the intricacies of the modern farming technology.
The point highlighted was the United Nations definition of food sustainability – “the idea that something (for example, agriculture, fishing or even preparation of food) is done in a way that is not wasteful of natural resources and can be continued into the future without being detrimental to the environment or people’s health.
The participating teams donated the harvested vegetables and several other essential items they were required to get to Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim/Miskin Dahikmah, a children’s welfare home, in Gopeng as well, thus fulfilling another aspect of the community drive – compassion and charity.
Bank Islam Group Chief Executive Officer Mohd Muazzam Mohamed said the banking institution contributed RM30,000 under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme to the welfare home.
He also said that the treasure hunt was organised to strengthen the bank’s relationship with the media, as well as in appreciation of the media support for the bank’s activities.
Besides the activities and games, the hunters had to find answers along the 378-km route based on cryptic clues and submit two videos and a photograph of their activities.
The presentation of the answers to the questions and the announcement of the winners as well as the prize-giving were held during brunch on Sunday at the Bertam Resort and Water Park in Kepala Batas where the participants had stayed overnight.
The ‘Kamikaze’ team from Utusan won the first prize of RM5,000; the ‘Kereta Burok’ team of journalists from Utusan TV, Warta Rakyat and Satu Berita My won the second prize of RM4,000 and the ‘Kingsman’ team of Bernama won the third prize of RM3,000.
Prizes were awarded up to the 10th position. There were also prizes for the Best Dressed Team, 40s Attire, Most Creative Photograph, Most Creative Video and Voice-Over, and Most Viewed TikTok Video.
-- BERNAMA
Source: BERNAMA News Agency