Nansian hitting a gong to officiate at the event. Also seen are Chan (third right) and Wan Mahmud (right).

KUCHING: Sarawakians should change their lifestyle to include fitness activities to keep fit and healthy, in view of the alarming obesity rate that has climbed to 30 per cent nationwide.

In making this call, Assistant Community Development Minister Datuk Peter Nansian said prevention is better than cure when it comes to health.

“The obesity rate has gone up to 30 per cent. This means one in three persons is obese,” said Nansian at the Kuching South City Council’s (MBKS) Kuching Festival Cash Martial Arts Display at the Hockey Stadium here on Saturday night.

Thus, he hopes that people will work hard to reduce the obesity rate by eating healthily and reducing intake of salt, sugar and oil.

“Too much of anything, be it sugar or oil is not good, thus eat moderately.”

He also recommended the people to take up martial arts as it has numerous benefits, aside from keeping fit.

Firstly, he said, it promotes discipline, besides being a good form of exercise and a good platform for youngsters to socialise and to keep them off the streets, thus preventing social ills.

However, he reminded martial arts practitioners not to abuse the skills and techniques learned to fight people.

“Martial arts is also a way to bring glory to the state, like aikido and wushu, which had brought home medals.

“The active participation in martial arts has made us, our city and our state proud. Keep it up,” he said.

Earlier, organising chairperson Cr Wan Mahmud Wan Abdullah said that the martial arts display, which was one of the attractions of the Kuching Festival, attracted 1,000 participants and the number of contingents had also increased from seven to nine this year.

They are Sarawak Taiji Qigong Sibashi, Sarawak Kabaddi Association, Aikido Iwama Ryu, Sarawak Silambam Association, Kuching Muaythai Association, Wushu Federation of Sarawak, Sarawak Taekwondo Association, Rumpun Silat Sarawak and Seni Mempertahankan Diri, Tentera Darat, Markas Pemerintahan Wilayah Timur. Also present was MBKS mayor Datuk James Chan.