Kluang Run for Peace Sounds Clarion Call for Peace

On the morning of 7 September 2025, the Kluang Sports Hub became the starting point for a great wave of hope –the biennial Run for Peace by Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM). The event, debuting in Kluang this year, aims to promote a culture of peace through running, raise awareness for the Sustainable Development Goals, and encourage intergenerational and cross-cultural engagement.

The run drew nearly 2,000 participants, filling the venue with a vibrant energy of unity, joy and shared purpose.

Kluang MP YB Wong Shu Qi officiated the event. In her address, she commended SGM’s unwavering commitment in organising the Run for Peace over 20 years and emphasised that peace is a personal and proactive choice, one that requires love and action to build a harmonious society. At 7:50 a.m., she flagged off the run. Participants then embarked on a five-kilometer or seven-kilometer route, each stride a testament to their commitment to peace.

The event also featured a variety of interactive activities, including face-painting, games and the “Seeds of Hope and Action (SoHA)” exhibition, fostering joyful interactions and deeper human connections among participants.

The SoHA exhibition, centred around key SDG themes, used visuals and real-life stories to illustrate how these goals contribute to peacebuilding, social progress, and environmental sustainability. The exhibition area became a vibrant space where participants of diverse backgrounds and ages engaged in heartfelt conversations and mutual listening, demonstrating that peace is not a distant ideal, but one rooted in everyday acts of listening, respect and care.

Each dialogue and every smile quietly sowed seeds of peace, taking root in the hearts of those present. Peace begins with the choices we make in each moment. This shared belief, carried through the footsteps of the run, now continues into daily life, becoming a lasting force for building a better, more compassionate society.

Reported by Sim Zhi Xiang, Kwan Zhi Jun, Kwan Zhi Wen

More on Run for Peace 2025

First launched in 2005, Run for Peace (RFP) is a biennial, non-competitive event that has attracted over 400,000 participants nationwide over the past two decades. Carrying the slogan, “Peace Starts with Me! ACT NOW for SDGs!”, the event highlights the message of peace in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and encourages Malaysians to take concrete action for a better future. Throughout September, more than 70,000 people are expected to join the run across 22 locations nationwide.

This year also commemorates the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing, and Run for Peace seeks to advance the UN SDGs by fostering a culture of peace, treasuring life, embracing diversity and protecting the environment for future generations.

For more information, kindly visit Run for Peace official website at https://www.runforpeace.com.my