S. INDRAMALAR | 29 August 2025
FOR Wira Sudepja Rabu and his family, KL's Car-Free Mornings are a perfect opportunity for a family outing. It’s especially ideal for his 17-year-old daughter, Nur Wadihan, who has cerebral palsy and is non-verbal, but has been participating in road races alongside her dad for many years.
“We have been participating in the KL Car-Free Morning (events) since 2015,” says Wira Sudepja. “My daughter is completely bedridden, but I have been riding with her for many years now. She enjoys it and is always smiling the entire time.”
Wira Sudepja has attached a special carrier to his bicycle in which Nur Wadihan rides. The father-daughter duo are regulars at running and cycling events, and they have even made it into the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR)! In 2018, Nur Wadihan and her father completed a 42km run-and-cycle duathlon which earned her a place in the MBOR as the first person with cerebral palsy to complete such a race. Nur Wadihan’s mother, Nur Murni Dona Mohd Nordin, 51, and sister, Nur Wirdani, 23, are also regulars at the car-free events.
“I initially sought out less crowded spaces for our outings. After some time, I decided to try taking her to an event. I spent months looking for suitable events to take her to, and I found that the KL Car-Free Mornings would be a good option. I think this is a good platform to promote togetherness and inclusivity.
“When we first started running and cycling in events, I was worried and nervous about what the perception of people would be. But I decided to go for it anyway. I found that she became the centre of attraction because of the unique way ih which we are racing. And people began to talk to us and find out more about Dihan. She has become an inspiration for others, and my worries and anxieties have all gone away,” says the 50-year-old dad.
The KL Car-Free Mornings, organised by DBKL with specific partners, take place on Sundays, from 7am to 9am. It is a green initiative to promote a healthy lifestyle among both locals and tourists in KL through recreational sports, arts and cultural activities and is part of a global drive to protect the environment and support the ideals of the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals of 2015.
Specific city roads are closed to motorised traffic, creating a safe space for cycling, running, skating and walking. The event starts from Dataran DBKL (near Dataran Merdeka) and leads participants through a five-or seven-kilometre route of major streets in Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle.
Lim Kit Wei, 43, was an “accidental” participant at a recent car-free morning event. Dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and chinos, he stood out among the runners, cyclists and rollerskaters.
“I didn’t know about this event. I was walking about the city taking photos when I noticed this group of people who looked like they were having a really fun time. It wasn’t like an ordinary marathon because the participants seemed to be more ‘chill’ and there was a mix of runners, cyclists, people on electric scooters and those who were just walking. I asked a random stranger if I could join in and I did. It was nice,” says Lim, who lives in Petaling Jaya.
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