SPORTS and recreation should be a fundamental part of our lives. Sports not only enable us to lead a healthy and balanced lifestyle, but also provide a medium for developing friendship and learning developmental skills across all domains.
Extreme sports have today become the sensational alternative, especially among the youth. It is one of the greatest challenges for people who prefer the freedom of extreme rather than organised sports.
Getting involved in extreme sports creates a great way to have fun while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Regardless of the type of extreme sports we undertake, we’ll be able to burn excess calories and maintain a healthy lifestyle in different and interesting ways.
Extreme sports should emphasise fun and maximise physical and social development for its participants.
Instead of discouraging them by giving negative feedback, policies and guidelines should be implemented based on scientific knowledge. We should encourage more youths to come forward to generate ideas for extreme sports as part of the aspirations for National Transformation 2050 (TN50). I believe their ideas will make Malaysia a more energetic nation.
I started to get involved with sports since my high school days. Basketball and dodgeball are my favourites. However, with late meetings and programmes all day, I find it difficult to have daily exercise routines.
As a career woman and a mother of five children, being healthy is a priority for me to manage a balanced life between work and family. In addition to a healthy diet, sports or physical activities are also key components of improving one’s health. Being involved in extreme sports is the best choice for me, given my busy daily schedule.
Besides, extreme sports give me an opportunity to engage with the youth. The popularity of extreme sports among our youths is driven by the risks, thrills and anxiety of the activities. This is probably the reason why some youngsters climbed to the top of the Ipoh signboard.
We need to engage with such youngsters to channel their daredevil energy beneficially through extreme sports. Parents, coaches, teachers, health professionals, community leaders and politicians need to play a part in finding a safe channel for our youths.
Extreme sports have taught me to overcome my fear and become a confident human being.
For most people, fear is a deterrent in working things out. However, I have learnt that by challenging my fears through extreme sports, I was able to overcome it. Just recently, I did paragliding at Bukit Jugra, Kuala Langat, as I challenged myself against my fear of heights.
George Addair once said, “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.”
You only need to be brave.
The “1 Negeri, 1 Gunung” programme with 200 youths was my first hiking project to establish extreme sports among our youngsters. This project, held at Gunung Datuk in Rembau, Negri Sembilan on Sept 17, was also to promote eco-tourism.
Sometimes a place will give you an unforgettable experience. By combining extreme sports and tourism, we will be able to encourage our daredevil youths to experience Malaysia in many a splendoured way.
If all goes well, the combination of extreme sports and tourism may just take us into the Malaysian Book Of Records.
The Tourism and Culture Ministry, with the collaboration of ScubaTex and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), is looking forward to attempt the “Longest Underwater Human Chain” by scuba divers in Pulau Bidong, Terengganu.
This attempt will be led by me to promote Malaysian tourism and extreme sports.
The current longest human chain underwater record is held by 308 divers, achieved in Cesenatico, Forli-Cesena, Italy, measuring 270 metres. The record was set on the world stage but we aim to set our own record here in Malaysia to promote scuba diving as an extreme sport.
Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin is the deputy tourism and culture minister