Kota Kinabalu Run for Peace Gathers Over 4,500 Participants towards a Sustainable Future
SGM Sabah held the Kota Kinabalu Run for Peace on 7 September 2025 at University Malaysia Sabah (UMS), with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The event drew an enthusiastic crowd of over 4,500 participants, echoing the slogan “Peace starts with me! Act Now for SDGs!”
The 6.4-kilometre run was officiated by Sabah National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN Sabah) deputy director Esther Dingkawan.
More than just a joyful run, the initiative carries the mission of promoting the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), exhorting the public to protect the environment and the planet while taking meaningful and concrete action.
Several NGOs co-organised the event, including GreenLab with Michael, To Earth With Love (TEWL) and the Sabah Recycling Association (Ripple). Booths with engaging activities – such as sign language games – were set up, each closely tied to the SDGs to raise awareness and encourage practical steps towards sustainability.
What made the event even more moving was the cross-generational participation. Many parents brought their children, while elderly participants and even people with disabilities bravely joined in — some completing the route in wheelchairs. Children also learned about environmental care through games and pledged not to litter or waste food.
Ultimately, this Run for Peace went far beyond running. True to its slogan, it planted seeds of peace and hope in the hearts of participants. One day, these seeds will surely blossom into colourful flowers, inspiring a wave of inner transformation for the sake of life on Earth and a sustainable environment.
Reported by Lee Kar Jing
Ester Dingkawan (on stage, third from right) flagged off the Kota Kinabalu Run for Peace with other guests.Sabahan peace lovers creating blue waves on the UMS campus.Participants from diverse ethnicities, religions and backgrounds coming together to embody the spirit of peace and unity. They came from various communities, including Kadazan-Dusun, Murut, Chinese and Malay.Youth division members putting up an energetic gymnastic performance.
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.
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