Syed Saddiq’s Muar charity run raises RM361,848 in just two days
PETALING JAYA: A charity running mission by Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has raised RM361,848 within two days, surpassing its initial fundraising target.
Syed Saddiq said he was surprised by the overwhelming response from the public, as the original goal was to collect RM200,000 within four days.
“RM361,848. Honestly, I am still surprised to see this figure.
“Our original target was RM200,000 in four days, but within just two days we have not only achieved it, we have exceeded it. Alhamdulillah,” he said in a video shared on his social media.
The fundraising campaign is part of the Larian Kesyukuran Muar, a 170-kilometre running mission from Putrajaya to Muar, Johor, aimed at raising funds to support community welfare and education programmes in his parliamentary constituency.
The run began on July 16 from the grounds of the Palace of Justice in Presint 3, Putrajaya, with Syed Saddiq receiving strong support from communities along the route.
The mission also carries personal significance for Syed Saddiq, who described the journey as a symbolic expression of gratitude after going through a long process of defending his reputation and clearing his name.
Reflecting on the challenges faced during the journey, Syed Saddiq said the route from Labu through Seremban and Pedas before ending in Kota tested his physical endurance.
He said he experienced severe muscle cramps that made it difficult to continue running at certain points.
“Today my body is really suffering. The muscle cramps came throughout my body and there were moments when I felt it was very difficult to continue.
“Even while recording this video, I can still feel the cramps coming back,” he said.
The challenge became tougher when he had to continue running through heavy rain in the Pedas area.
However, he said the encouragement from members of the public waiting along the roadside gave him renewed motivation to complete the journey.
“In Pedas, the rain was very heavy, but I was truly touched seeing many people still waiting by the roadside to give encouragement.
“For the final three kilometres towards Kota, I could no longer run and had to walk, but when I arrived and saw the crowd waiting, my spirit came back,” he said.
Syed Saddiq also expressed appreciation for donations received from supporters, including elderly individuals who contributed according to their own abilities.
He said even the smallest contribution, including a donation of 50 sen, carried great meaning because it was given sincerely.
“For me, it is not about whether the amount is big or small. Every cent has meaning because it comes from the heart,” he said.
He assured that all funds collected would be fully channelled towards expanding social welfare and education assistance programmes for communities in Muar.
Initial plans included a food bank programme and the distribution of iPads worth around RM200,000, but Syed Saddiq said the scale of assistance would be increased following the strong public response.
“With this extraordinary support, we will multiply our efforts to help the people of Muar.
“More families will receive assistance and more students will gain access to learning devices,” he said.
Syed Saddiq also thanked Malaysians who supported the fundraising mission, describing it as a collective effort rather than a personal journey.
“Thank you everyone and thank you Malaysia. This is no longer my journey alone, this is our journey together,” he said.
