By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
PETALING JAYA, Feb 10 — The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) continues to establish strategic cooperation via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with national tower-running athlete Soh Wai Ching.
Mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon said the sponsorship, now in its third year and amounting to RM75,000, enables Soh to continue competing at the international level while also vying for the world number one ranking this year.
“In addition, the purpose of signing this MoU is also to promote Petaling Jaya as a smart, sustainable, and resilient city, as well as a tourism destination for visitors, especially in conjunction with Visit Selangor Year 2025.
“MBPJ hopes that this sponsorship will help him achieve championship titles and bring glory to Malaysia, particularly Petaling Jaya, on the world stage,” he said during the MoU signing ceremony today.
Zahri added that the MoU includes several terms and conditions, one of which requires Soh to always wear a shirt or jersey with the MBPJ logo in every race, including during interviews.
The MoU also stipulates that he must attend and deliver three motivational talks organised by MBPJ in schools around Petaling Jaya.
On his part, Soh said he aims to reclaim the top position this year by participating in larger world championships.
According to the 2023 Selangor State Sports Awards Sportsman of the Year winner, he is now adopting a more selective approach when choosing competitions to avoid compromising his health.
“Last year, my health was not at its best because I participated in too many competitions. However, this year I am prioritising quality over quantity to ensure my health is not affected.
“Simultaneously, I will also engage directly with athletes who are interested or have promising potential. This is not just about me; I also want to help find future athletes for the country,” Soh said.
