Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the National Sports Day to be celebrated on Oct 10 was capable of strengthening the ties among the people in the country, regardless of age, race and religious belief.

On his latest Facebook posting, Najib said apart from encouraging sporting culture among the people, it would also emphasize on mass participation.

"As stated in the 2015 Budget tabled last year, I have announced that the government will take an integrated move towards transforming Malaysia as a sporting nation.

"In order to make it a reality, I have launched the countdown for the National Sports Day celebration on Oct 10, which will involve both the public and the private sector, as well as the people across the nation," he said.

During the launch, Najib also declared that the second Saturday of October each year as the National Sports Day.

"200 days to go to celebrate the National Sports Day. We'll be sporting together on Oct 10!" said the prime minister, who also uploaded a picture of him with Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Deputy Minister Datuk M.Saravanan at the launch.