KL Mayor "Cycles" the talk

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib who promised that he would cycle to work if at least 50 buildings in the federal capital "went dark" in conjunction with Earth Hour on Saturday, delivered on it today.

This year 88 buildings in the city switched off their lights in marking Earth Hour.

Though it was a wet morning today, the mayor donned in cycling gear and a luminous safety vest started the six-kilometre journey from his home in Bukit Tunku here to City Hall (DBKL) headquarters in Jalan Raja laut at 8.20am.

World Wildlife Fund-Malaysia (WWF) chief executive officer Datuk Dionysius Sharma, Germany's Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Gunter Gruber, the Netherlands Ambassador to Malaysia P.P.J Bekkers and wife Agneta, DBKL director-general Datuk Salleh Yusof and 10 others from WWF, DBKL Cycling Club and Visit KL Cycling Club, besides heads of departments of DBKL, also joined the mayor to give moral support.

They rode through Jalan Parlimen, Taman Botani Perdana, Masjid Negara, and Dataran Merdeka before arriving at City Hall's headquarters.

At a media conference afterwards, Ahmad Phesal said he was delighted that the number of buildings "switching off" far exceeded the target.

He said he hoped city folk would take up cycling as it not only was good for health but also helped in reducing pollution and preserving the environment.

Among the "star" buildings which participated in Earth Hour in the city this year were the Petronas Twin Tours (KLCC), KL Tower and Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.