About 3,000 biking enthusiasts in Singapore and from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei gathered to raise funds for the Malay Heritage Centre.

'I made the trip down from Malacca to lend my support. It's a meaningful event and we want to make it a success,' said 27-year-old Malaysian businessman and bike enthusiast Mahadir Abdul Kadir. He made the trip here with fellow bike enthusiasts from Malacca.

Added 38-year-old textile manufacturer and bike enthusiast Erwin Yulezar: 'I flew to Singapore from Indonesia specially for the event. My biking enthusiast group is looking at organising a similar event in Indonesia so we want to pick up tips.'

A seemingly unlikely partnership between the Malay Heritage Centre and an association of biking enthusiasts, Bikers' Aid started last September during the Ramadan month. Bikers helped by delivering ketupats or compressed rice cakes to needy families across the island.

'We want to show that bikers are people with a big heart for charity,' said managing director of Bikers' Aid Jay Ridhuan, 45.

Motor Jamboree 2008 is their first large-scale collaboration to reach out to more bikers and get them to join to serve the community, said general manager of the Malay Heritage Foundation Eddy Noor Hassan, 42.

'It's like a domino effect. Once we can get bikers to join, we can reach out to their family members and get them to join too,' he added.

Besides live band performances and airbrush design competitions, the event also featured anti-drug abuse and road safety messages.

Another aim of the event was to promote the history of the Kampong Glam area and an understanding of the Malay culture and heritage among bikers of different races and nationalities.

About 50 bikers, including those from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei, went on a heritage trail in the late afternoon to visit places of worship in the vicinity, such as the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple and Sri Krishnan Temple, both at Waterloo Street.

The event hopes to raise about $10,000 through admission fees and the sale of t-shirts and souvenirs.