RHB Banking Group are Champions again

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 September 2006: The RHB Banking Group has done it yet again … from the word “GO”, there was no doubt at all which teams were going to make an impact – and a great one at that – at The Edge Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Rat Race 2006.

For a start, RHB went into the race way ahead of the rest, at least in terms of the size of its contingent. Following its record in last year’s event, RHB again sent in a total of 12 teams or 60 runners. They were led by RHB Bank Bhd Chairman Dato’ Azlan Zainol and RHB Sakura Merchant Bankers Bhd Chairman Dato Abdullah Mat Noh who participated in the CEOs Race.

Dato’ Azlan, who began the race in a suit, also carried an RHB paper bag containing, among other things a windcheater, which he subsequently donned in place of his jacket halfway through the 1km race. His efforts won him the title of Best Dressed Participant of the event. Dato’ Abdullah, a still sprightly 65-year-old, took the title for the Most Senior Participant.

Two of the 12 RHB teams were among the top three teams in the race. RHB Team 4, comprising Leong Kwan Chong, C. Krishnansamy, Vasu Subramaniam, S. Genesan and C. Gnanasegaran retained their title when they finished way ahead of the other participants. RHB Team 5, whose runners were Tony Quay Peng Kim, Steven Leong Kwan Sang, Mogan Rajoo, Mohammad Fadly Hassan and Baskaran A. Kannan, was pipped at the post by Malaysia Airlines into third place.

Genesan also retained the crown as the winner of the Rat Race.

RHB’s prowess was not confined to the 4.5km of pavement around the financial district of Kuala Lumpur. Its contingent of supporters, backed by bagpipes and drums, drowned out the supporters from rival teams.

RHB, by virtue of being the company that had sent in the largest number of teams, was also the largest contributor with RM68,000 to this charitable cause. More than RM1 million was raised for a total of 12 charities in this year’s event.