Eyeing my foreword message to the China Aid Alumni Association Malaysia Magazine

First of all let me take this opportunity in congratulating the committee members of the China Aid Alumni Association Malaysia for their inaugural publication of the CAAAM Magazine. It is indeed a very constructive and paramount effort in enhancing and distributing information amongst the alumni members and related stakeholders. Under the advice and guidance of the Economic and Commercial office of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia, I am very confident that this magazine will be able to be successful and meet its objectives.

The new Central Leadership of the Communist Party of China with Xi Jinping as the General Secretary and President of the PRC has led the Party and the people of China in confronting the problems and challenges they face, to drive reform and opening up to a deeper level, to modernize the national governance system, and to marshal their enormous strength behind the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation.

China is attracting growing attention worldwide. The world wants to know what changes are in progress in China and what impact they will have on the rest of the world. This magazine through the contribution of Alumni members who will have direct excess and experience in China can contribute to better understand in their own words the thoughts, views and direction of the CPC Central Committee and the President.

This magazine will definitely be very useful in responding to the rising international interest and to enhance the rest of the world’s understanding of the Chinese Government’s philosophy and its domestic and foreign policies.

We are very confident and positive that the Chinese Dream will benefit not only the people of China but also of other countries. The One Belt One Road initiative will not only bring prosperity to China but also along the 21^st century maritime silk route. To achieve this goal we will need to share accurate information. We need to build the trust and good neighborly ties. Trust is the very foundation of both interpersonal and state to state relations. This magazine indeed will be one of the building blocks in disseminating the real, true and accurate information in creating and building the trust.

Sincerely yours,

Professor Datuk (Dr.) Naim Mohamad

Advisor China Aid Alumni Association Malaysia.

Eyeing the Inaugural OCBC Cycle SEA Speedway Championship 2015

Malaysia underlined their status as the dominant force in cycling in this region after they won the inaugural OCBC Cycle Speedway SEA Championship in convincing fashion yesterday.

Powered by double SEA Games gold medallist Mohamed Hariff Saleh, the Malaysians led from start to finish in a three-way final race against Singapore and Brunei at the Sports Hub.

The quartet - comprising Hariff, Mohamed Saiful Anuar Aziz, Muhamad Adiq Husainie Othman and Muhammad Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi - clocked a time of 18min 44sec, far ahead of Singapore (22:44) and Brunei (22:54) to win the 10km race.

The teams were among the first to race in a new format. Two riders of each team would tackle the first 5km, followed by the next pair.

The team's time would be clocked when the last rider crossed the finish line.

If the Malaysians were unfamiliar with the format, they certainly did not show it, as they surged to about a minute ahead of the rest of the pack by the halfway mark.

"It seems like I can always do so well and win races here," joked Hariff, whose love affair with Singapore continues after his feats at the SEA Games.

Malaysia coach Sebastian Duclos felt that the race was won by adopting the right tactics.

He said: "We made sure that all of our riders kept up with one another, opening up a big gap right from the start, and staying focused throughout the race.

"I hope they can do well not just in the region but also in Asia."

There was drama surrounding the second- and third-place finishes. Entering the home stretch, Brunei's Abdul Hadrie Morsidi had crossed the finish line narrowly ahead of Singapore's Low Ji Wen.

But Brunei were later docked a 10-second penalty for going beyond the dismount line at the changeover, thereby lifting Singapore to second spot.

"It's probably the most tactical race I'd been in.

"But it's a big change from what we are used to and it's refreshing," Low said.

The two-day OCBC Cycle event concludes today with the mass-participation races - the 42km Sportive Ride and 23km The Straits Times Ride.