LANGKAWI – Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is taking on the gruelling Ironman Malaysia 2025 in Langkawi with one goal, which is to bring home RM1 million for his constituents.
The 32-year-old former youth and sports minister accepted a challenge from local fashion brand Prima Valet, which promised to contribute RM1 million to the people of Muar if he completed the race in under 13 hours.
Ironman Malaysia is recognised as one of the world’s toughest endurance races, requiring participants to complete a 3.8-kilometre swim, a 180-kilometre cycling course and a 42.2-kilometre marathon.
In a post shared on his Facebook and TikTok accounts on Wednesday night, Syed Saddiq said his participation was not for personal benefit but to raise funds for his community.
"For RM1 million for Muar, I accept the challenge from Boss @primavalet! Bring it on.
"Thirteen hours in Ironman Langkawi = RM1 million for Muar. When one door closes, ten others open. Alhamdulillah," he wrote in his post.
The post featured a short video containing a screenshot of PV’s Instagram challenge, which stated that Prima Valet’s boss had challenged Syed Saddiq to complete the Ironman Langkawi within 13 hours, promising to donate RM1 million to Muar if he succeeded.
The video also showed the MP shaving his head, joking that the move could save him three seconds during the race.
In last year’s Ironman Malaysia event, Syed Saddiq finished in 13 hours and 13 minutes despite losing nearly half an hour after colliding with a fallen tree branch during the cycling leg.
This year’s competition will feature more than 1,800 athletes from 65 countries competing on the legendary island.