| People |
august-september, 2020 | The Health
27
Cycling for a
healthy heart
Corporate figure Datuk Mahmud’s thirst for biking
helps keep his heart muscles strong and healthy
BY KHIRTINI K KUMARAN
For Halal Development
Corporation (HDC) Chairman Datuk
Mahmud Abbas, cycling is his way of
keeping fit. His passion for cycling
has taken him on a 15-year journey
which even saw the setting up a
neighbourhood cycling club.
Cycling, he said, is one of the best ways
to build up and strengthen the heart
muscles.
“One of the objectives of exercise is to
build your heart muscles so that it pumps
blood efficiently, straight to the brain and
to the end of the legs,” Mahmud, 62, told
The Health.
“To build the heart muscle, you will need
to exercise at 80 per cent of your maximum
heart rate, at least for five minutes, three
times a week.
“So, cycling is the best, because once you
have cycled for three minutes, you would
already reach 80 per cent of your maximum
heart rate level.”
He said that initially, it would be tough.
But as you maintain the cycling regime and
develop your heart muscles, you will find
yourself being able to cycle much farther.
“When I first started about 15 years
ago, I would have reached my maximum
heart rate every one or two km. But after a
while, I could ride for 30 km to 40 km before
reaching my maximum heart rate,” he said,
adding that outdoor cycling is more fun
than cycling in the gym.
Bukit Jelutong Cycling Club (BJCC)
When he first started cycling 15 years ago,
there were not many cyclists around.
“So, whenever I cycle and see someone
else cycling, I would call out and invite
them to cycle together.”
After two to three weeks, his cycling
group begun to grow. But the group needed
an excellent area to cycle and required a
ALL GEARED UP - Mahmud (fourth from
left) often rides with HDC staff.
captain to determine the routes.
So, he started a club called the Bukit
Jelutong Cycling Club (BJCC) and later
appointed a president and a captain. He
served as the first president. After a while,
even more joined the club.
“The beauty of cycling is it cuts across
racial boundaries. The bond becomes
stronger when we suffer together,” he
joked.
He has since left the club but still joins
in events and meets members during their
annual dinners.
A veteran corporate man
Mahmud has over 30 years of corporate
experience, especially in the property
Mahmud passion for
cycling has taken him on
a 15-year journey which
even saw the setting up
a neighbourhood cycling
club.
Mahmud enjoys pushing
the limit.
To build the heart
muscle, you will
need to exercise at
80 per cent of your
maximum heart
rate, at least for five
minutes, three times
a week. So, cycling
is the best, because
once you have cycled
for three minutes,
you would already
reach 80 per cent of
your maximum heart
rate level.”
industry. In 2017, he was awarded the
Chief Executive of the Year, by Selangor
Excellence Business Award, for his
contribution in turning around Central
Spectrum Sdn Bhd (CSSB), where he was the
Managing Director for seven years.
After CSSB, he was appointed as the
Chief Executive of Knowledge Economic
City (KEC) a Public Listed Property
Development Company in Madinah, Saudi
Arabia KEC, before becoming the chairman
of HDC in July 2019.
In 2015, Mahmud was recognised by
OIC World Today and was awarded the
Jewel of the Muslim World Award for his
contribution to the halal industry and the
economic growth of the Ummah.
At Central Spectrum, he was responsible
for the Development of Pulau Indah,
Selangor. Some of the successful project
developments under his belt are the Pulau
Indah Industrial Park (PIIP), Selangor Halal
Hub (SHH) and Selangor Bio Bay (SBB).
The landscape of Pulau Indah was
transformed with niche Industrial Park
Development that he introduced and it is
also the first gated and guarded Industrial
Park in Malaysia.
He added: “At Central Spectrum, I
also started the 180 Pulau Indah Cycling
Challenge, which is the longest cycling
challenge in the country.”
After a year or so, the 180 Pulau Indah
Cycling Challenge began to gain popularity.
It attracted over 1,000 cyclists, including
international cyclists from 23 countries.
The competition became successful,
and it garnered the attention of the then
Menteri Besar of Selangor, Datuk Seri
Azmin Ali.
“He attended the event and later he too,
started to cycle. He also made all of his staff
ride with him.”
It later led to the incorporation of
cycling lanes in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Following this, Kuala Lumpur also followed
and created cycling lanes.
Mahmud made sure he incorporated
cycling lanes in all his developments. He
has established many flourishing cycling
lanes such as at the Selangor Bio Bay in
Pulau Indah Industrial Park, Selangor.
His goal is to have a healthy population
through people using such parks.
He also promotes cycling at his
workplace in HDC. Staff are encouraged to
join the cycling stint via the HDC Social &
Recreational Club. — The Health