The annual Malakoff “Karnival Sukan Rakyat Mukim Serkat” was held on 8 and 9 December 2018 at Jeti Nelayan Kampung Tanjung Piai and Balairaya Pekan in Mukim Serkat, Johor and attracted more than 1,000 participants and spectators from the local community. The event, a collaboration between Malakoff and JKKK Mukim Serkat, was graced by YB Datuk Haji Salahuddin bin Ayub, the Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry who is also Pulai Member of Parliament.

Also present were YB Suhaizan bin Kayat (Speaker of Johor State Assembly), Tuan Roslan bin Bokari (Penghulu of Mukim Serkat) and representatives from Malakoff.

The carnival was organised to further strengthen Malakoff’s goodwill with the local community while offering a helping hand to the underprivileged families with a monthly income of below RM3,900 per month, also known as the B40 families.

Commencing at 8 a.m., Day 1 kicked off with a traditional game pioneered by the fishermen of Kampung Tanjung Piai called “Jong”. The competition certainly heightened the event’s atmosphere with participants displaying their excitement and competitive spirit, consequently setting the tone for the rest of day that was packed with traditional community-oriented competitions. Among the competitions were bowling competition using a coconut head, pillow fight on a pole, freestyle swimming and boat tug-of-war.

The carnival also saw pole walking and duck catching competitions that required skills and quick moves by the participants.

As the night fell, the event mellowed with a domino competition before it wrapped up at 12 a.m.

Day 2 activities were more skewed towards a service to the local community with a housekeeping activity that saw Malakoff staff worked hand in hand with the local community to clean up the surrounding area. A free medical check-up was also made available as a service for the community.

The event was not short of activities for everyone as cooking and floral arrangement competitions attracted participations from the local home-makers. The highlight of event, the “Puyu Challenge” which was basically a fishing competition, offered up to RM1,000 of cash prize for the winner with the biggest catch.

When asked about energy level of the event, Tuan Roslan was very expressive of his appreciation towards this collaboration.

“Such carnival promotes unity and togetherness while harnessing team work and the value of community, and we strive to ensure that the outcome is a success.

“This is why the turn-out and participation rate is high, because the locals are aware of how much efforts are put in and how they are truly held in high regard”, he added.