Torch Run Completed Without Hitch

Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Cheng Yonghua kindles the Olympic torch for the last torchbearer during the torch relay in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 21, 2008. Kuala Lumpur is the 13th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian leg of the Beijing Olympics torch run, 13th in the series of 19 cities selected to host the run, completed the 13.5km journey without any untoward incidents here Monday.

A heavy downpour midway through the run failed to douse the flame or dampen the spirit of the 80 runners who braved the blistering afternoon heat when the run started at the Dataran Merdeka about 2.30pm before ending in pouring rain at the KLCC Petronas Twin Towers.

Jiang Xiaoyu (R2), vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games, attends the launching ceremony of the torch relay in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 21, 2008. Kuala Lumpur is the 13th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, who was among the 80 torch bearers, said the run went on smoothly without any hitches or incident.

Daughter of former Malaysia Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad runs with the Olympic torch during the torch relay in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 21, 2008. Kuala Lumpur is the 13th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay.

"We had made all the necessary arrangements and took precautionary measures to ensure a smooth run. Being selected as one of the venues for the run was indeed an honour and it is the duty of the police to make sure safety was top priority. We had deployed about 1000 police personnel," Musa told reporters after the run.

Torchbearers relay the Olymic torch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 21, 2008. Kuala Lumpur is the 13th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay.

The Olympic flame, concealed in a lantern which arrived at the KL International Airport (KLIA) from Bangkok Sunday morning, was revealed Monday by the Beijing Olympic Games Organising Committee (BOGOC) vice president Jiang Xiaoyu, who later lighted up the Olympic Torch before handing it to first runner Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja'afar, the president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).

Torchbearer Ye Jinfu runs with the Olympic torch during the torch relay in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 21, 2008. Kuala Lumpur is the 13th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay.

Cheered on by about 5,000-odd enthusiastic fans who had filled Dataran Merdeka long before the lighting up ceremony, Tunku Imran passed the torch to second runner Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah, the former OCM president and International Olympic Committee member.

Apart from Tunku Imran and Hamzah, the list of 80 runners comprised a long list of notable former athletes, officials, sponsors, current athletes and former Olympic Games medal winners like Sidek brothers Razif, Jailani, Rashid and Cheah Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock, all from badminton.

Notable former athletes in the list were cricketer Karu Selvaratnam, former shuttler and now Badminton World Federation deputy president Datuk Punch Gunalan, former badminton player Datuk James Selvaraj and runner Marina Chin while the current athletes list was headed by women's world squash champion Nicol David and Lee Chong Wei, ranked number two in world badminton.

There were also celebrities and high profile names like Malaysia's first Astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszapahar, Datin Paduka Sharifah Mazlina (Malaysia's woman adventurer who made solo trip to the North and South poles), AirAsia chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandez and the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.

In fact, Azlan Shah was the last torchbearer for the Malaysian leg and received the torch from Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Cheng Yonghua before handing it back to Xiaoyu for it's journey to Jakarta, next.

Meanwhile, OCM deputy president Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan said he was happy that the run went on smoothly without any incident as there was some apprehension that there would trouble during the run.

Torchbearer Hamzah Abu Samah holds the torch during the torch relay in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 21, 2008. Kuala Lumpur is the 13th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay.

The (Rashid Sidek) 18th torchbearer runs with the Olympic torch during the torch relay in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 21, 2008. Kuala Lumpur is the 13th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay.

Before the run commenced, a Japanese family of three and a New Zealand woman were held by police temporarily for questioning because they made some protests at Dataran Merdeka over China's crackdown in Tibet but were later released

Cheah Soon Kit kisses the torch during the torch relay in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 21, 2008. Kuala Lumpur is the 13th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay.

-- BERNAMA