Kayaker to go around Penang Island on three-day solo journey

GEORGE TOWN: A 47-year-old former soldier embarked on a three-day solo kayak journey around Penang island, today, to mark the country's 60th National Day celebration this year.
Solo kayaker Murad Mohd Kassim began his 80km kayaking journey across the channel wearing a swimsuit with his new RM16,000 motorised Fissot Kayak.
He said he will take a break at night before resuming kayaking the next the day.
"I will take a shore break.I decided to kayak around Penang to express my love towards the country as it is Malaysia's independence month.
Murad said he expected some tough times as the sea was choppy in some parts off the coast of Penang.
"I am prepared for this and have trained to deal with any situation," he said.
The Kuala Kangsar born lad was flagged off by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) assistant director Noor Azlina Nordin at the Batu Uban police marine jetty today.
Murad said his kayaking journey will cover Tanjung Tokong, Sungai Batu, and Teluk Kumbar before returning back to the Batu Uban jetty at afternoon on Thursday.
"My next target is to kayak around Langkawi, " he said, without elaborating when he wanted to do it.
Murad has seven years of kayaking experience as he was a kayaking coach at the University of Sultan Azlan Shah in Kuala Kangsar, Perak previously.
Last year, he created a record after kayaking around Peninsula Malaysia for 52 days.
Two years ago, he also successfully paddled in his kayak from Kuala Kangsar, Perak to Pengkalan Nelayan Batu 4, Port Dickson, in 14 days.