The Klang City Marathon In Which 3 Runners Were Hit By A Car Was Held Without Approval
Organisers of Klang marathon will face legal action.
By Sadho Ram — 11 Dec 2017, 04:54 PM
The organisers of the Klang City International Marathon 2017 did not apply for a licence to hold the event on Sunday, 10 December
The Sports Commissioner's Office, which oversees the organisation of sports events in Malaysia, has revealed that the Klang City Marathon was held without approval.
According to a report in The Malay Mail Online, Sports Commissioner Datuk Zaiton Othman said that Earth Runners International Group Sdn Bhd did not submit an application to her office to hold the event.
"Based on our checks, the organiser did not apply for a permit for the run with our office. No application was made to my office as required under the Act. They should have done so as they are a company and not a sporting body," Zaiton was quoted as saying by The Malay Mail Online on Monday, 11 December.
During the marathon, three runners were hit by a car, one of whom, 44-year-old Evelyn Ang suffered severe injuries to her head and jaw
Evelyn, a pro runner, remains in critical condition at the Sungai Buloh Hospital.
"We regret this deeply because the organisation of any events should get the approval of the Sports Commissioner as stated in the Sports Development Act 1997, as well as approvals from the relevant bodies of that sport, police and local councils," the Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported Zaiton as saying.
An approval is necessary so that all rules would be followed and the organisers' financial and technical ability would not be questioned, Zaiton added.
Earth Runners International Group, the Klang City marathon's organiser, would face punitive action for breaching the law
The Sports Commissioner's Office will allow police to carry out investigations.
"I would like to remind everyone who wants to organise any sports event to apply and get our approval. The organisers should also adhere to the decision made on the application. This is to make sure that the organiser of the event follows all the rules for the safety of everyone," Zaiton was quoted as saying by The Star Online.
Meanwhile, organiser Donny Teh, however, claims that Earth Runners International Group had sent the relevant applications for the run to traffic police and to the municipal council in May
He said that there were 65 police officers, 40 Rela personnel, 35 road marshals and five ambulances were present at the event that was held on Sunday, adding that paramedics attended to the injured runners within five minutes of the accident.
"The paramedics at the scene attended to the three injured runners almost immediately. The victims were rushed to the hospital using the ambulance that was on standby," Teh was quoted as saying by The Malay Mail Online.
