KOTA KINABALU: Participation in the Jom! Malaysia–China Friendship Run 2026 has exceeded 5,000 runners, with the event’s main sponsor, Hong Kong-based Luen Thai Group, the parent company of Skechers, contributing an additional 500 mystery-box gifts worth RM100,000 for the first 500 finishers of the run.
Recently, Malaysia–China Friendship Association Sabah President Dr Oh Ei Sun, accompanied by Executive Vice President and Secretary-General Steven Liaw, met with Willie Tan, Vice Chairman of Luen Thai Group and Chief Executive Officer of Skechers China, Korea and Southeast Asia, to exchange views on the upcoming event.
During the meeting, Dr Oh said that since its inception, the Malaysia–China Friendship Run has been more than just a sporting event; it has also served as an important platform for promoting people-to-people friendship between Malaysia and China. As bilateral relations continue to deepen, exchanges in trade, culture, education and tourism have become increasingly frequent, while the Friendship Run helps bring the peoples of both countries closer together through mass participation.
He noted that the registration figure surpassing 5,000 participants reflects strong public support and recognition for healthy living and Malaysia–China friendship, while also demonstrating the enthusiasm of Sabahans in participating in international friendship and cultural exchange activities.
“We are deeply grateful to Skechers and its parent company, Luen Thai Group, for their continuous support of the Malaysia–China Friendship Run over the years. Their commitment has enabled the event to grow in scale and influence. Corporate participation not only provides valuable resources for the event but also demonstrates a strong sense of social responsibility and community engagement,” he said.
Meanwhile, Willie Tan said that Luen Thai Group has always placed great emphasis on community development and healthy living. The Malaysia–China Friendship Run successfully combines sports with international friendship and cultural exchange, making it a highly meaningful and positive initiative that the Group is pleased to continue supporting.
He added that the participation figure exceeding 5,000 runners once again proves that the event has become one of Sabah’s most influential mass-participation activities and an important platform for strengthening people-to-people exchanges between Malaysia and China.
“Sports transcend language, culture and national boundaries, bringing together people from different backgrounds.
Through our support of the Malaysia–China Friendship Run, we hope to encourage more people to embrace an active and healthy lifestyle while further enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of Malaysia and China,” he said.
Tan also expressed his best wishes for the successful staging of the 2026 Malaysia–China Friendship Run and hoped that all participants would enjoy the spirit of sports while spreading the values of health, vitality and friendship to others.
The Jom! The Malaysia–China Friendship Run 2026 will be held on July 26 at 6.00am at Padang Merdeka, Kota Kinabalu, covering a distance of 7 kilometres.
Over the years, the event has received strong support from renowned sportswear brand Skechers, helping to promote sports participation and healthy living among Sabahans. Among the highlights is the event’s grand lucky draw prize — one year’s supply of running shoes worth RM5,508, whereby the winner will receive running shoes worth RM459 per month for 12 consecutive months.
In addition to lucky draw prizes worth more than RM43,000, participants will receive a race pack containing an event T-shirt, an eco-friendly bag, a 25% Skechers discount voucher, a race bib, a Warehaus 25% discount voucher, and a V Magic 10th Anniversary 50% treatment discount voucher.
