MIRI (Aug 23): This month’s ‘Miri City Car-Free Day’ was transformed into a lively carnival as local communities of all ages came together to celebrate sustainability, culture and community spirit.

Adding a vibrant twist to the event was its colourful theme, ‘Kain Pelikat, Orang Kampung Kita’, where participants proudly donned traditional ‘sarongs’, displaying their cultural pride.

In his opening remarks, Mayor Adam Yii emphasised that the event was about more than just closing roads to traffic — it was a celebration of culture and unity.

“Miri City Car-Free Day is even more colourful as we celebrate it with the ‘kain pelikat’ theme. The kain pelikat is more than just clothing — it is a symbol of simplicity, tradition, and unity.

“It reminds us that sustainability also means valuing our culture, honouring our roots, and celebrating the things that bring us together as Malaysians.”

Yii also highlighted the broader goals of the Car-Free Day initiative, which focuses on opening streets for people to walk, cycle, run, and enjoy time outdoors with family and friends.

“It is about creating safe spaces where children can play freely, where neighbours can connect, and where everyone can enjoy fresher, cleaner air,” he said.

He further noted that the initiative supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing); SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

The event also featured traditional games, including ‘melastik tradisional’ (traditional slingshot), ‘memanah tradisional’ (traditional archery), and other heritage activities aimed at reviving the joy of ‘sukan rakyat’ (people’s game).

“These games are not only fun — they help preserve our local heritage and show that fitness, culture, and community spirit can go hand in hand,” Yii added.

The half-day event was held at Miri City Hall, with Jalan Bandaraya and Jalan Marina Utama closed to traffic from 7am to 11.30am.