Foul!

The Attorney-General's Chambers has declared a NFA (No Further Action) on the investigation papers (IP) into the failure of Klang City International Marathon organiser to obtain a licence or apply for one from the Sports Commissioner to hold the event last December. The NST quoted  Klang Selatan district police chief Assistant Commissioner Shamsul Amar Ramli  as saying:  "The order was done on the directive of the Attorney-General with the reason that Section 36(1) of the Sports Development Act 1997 is not an offence that can be accusable and it was subsequently classified NFA,"  Read the full report here . Let's dissect the quote. " ... with the reason that Section 36(1) of the Sports Development Act 1997 is not an offence that can be accusable."  The AGC may have come to that conclusion because Section 36 does not specify that not having the appropriate license is an offence.  But .... Section 39 of the Sports Development Act reads...

I just saw Caroline Ang's posting on Facebook regarding Evelyn Ang: Ang, 44, Amiruddin Hamid, 37, and Ahmad Hadafi Jus, 42 were hit by a car during the  Klang City International Marathon, Selangor on Dec 10, 2017. Numerous questions were raised after the incident, as per my article in Channel NewsAsia . Also, more runs were held but were 'missing' from the Sports Commissioner's Office's list of approved and rejected events, as I wrote on Dec 29, 2017 ( MAF, FTAAA not informed of KL New Year run ). Back to Ang, the questions raised by Caroline as per her Facebook posting speak for itself.  I wonder if anyone is truly following up with the episode. The last thing we want is to hear is the powers-that-be repeating themselves, making a whole lot of pledges and promises, when another tragedy strikes.

MAF officials met Sports Commissioner Zaiton Othman on December 18 and it was decided that the Sports Commissioner's Office will notify the authorities, including police and local councils, to only approve runs that are supported by either the state associations or the national federation and the Sports Commissioner's Office. This was from my article following the Klang marathon episode, which appeared on the landing page of  Channel NewsAsia's sports section  today. Following the Klang incident, several good initiatives were introduced. But .... Why: 1. No one has asked the police why did they approve a run that is 'illegal' based on the Sports Development Act 1997? 2. Many other runs which have not been approved or listed by the Sports Commissioner's Office, as seen on the Youth and Sports Ministry's website , continue to take place? They include:   i. Bentong Half Marathon which was launched by Transport Minister and Bentong MP Liow Tio...

As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol RUNNING has been an integral part of mankind's activities for centuries. Men ran to hunt for food while an organised long distance race was first documented as early as 690BC in Egypt. King Taharka mooted and laid down the rules for soldiers to run a 100km race which started in the area between Sakkara Pyramid and Faiyum Oasis before ending at Hawara Pyramid in Faiyum. It was a race where even King Taharka participated, to show his keen interest in the event. Running was part of the ancient Olympics which started in 776BC and the marathon has been featured in every Olympic Games since the inaugural modern Olympics in 1896. Marathons, half-marathons and 10km runs have been enjoying a strong following in Malaysia in recent years, attracting thousands of local and foreign participants. Last season saw a running competition held nationwide practically every other weekend. From the look of things, t...

As published in Malay Mail today By Haresh Deol and May Robertson mmnews@mmail.com.my KUALA LUMPUR — Athletics is in danger of being airbrushed from the 2017 SEA Games if Malaysia stands firm in dropping five traditional events. Thailand Athletics Association chief operating officer Major General Surapong Ariyamongkol told Malay Mail the Asian Athletics Association would not give its approval if marathon, 10,000m, 3,000 steeplechase, decathlon and heptathlon were axed from the bi-annual Games.  Ariyamongkol said this matter was raised during the two-day 84th Asian AA meeting in Doha on Feb 17 and 18.  “Representatives from several Southeast Asian nations spoke to (Asian AA secretary) Maurice Nicholas about the matter and he was unhappy the events were not considered.  “He told us the Asian AA will not approve the SEA Games athletics calendar if the organisers went ahead with the reduced list of events. “The organisers cannot simply drop t...

As published in Mailsport today By Vijhay Vick vijhay@mmail.com.my PUTRAJAYA — Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has summoned Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) vice president Rear Admiral (rtd) Datuk Danyal Balagopal to meet him today. Khairy wants to get to the bottom of the tiff between OCM and the Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) over the Malaysia International Marathon (MIM). MAF insists the run can only go ahead with its sanctions but Danyal disagrees — even though OCM's executive board last Tuesday agreed to change the name of the run to avoid any conflict. Khairy said the OCM board must be respected, not undermined. "I don't know why they have reverted to the original name when it has been established MAF has the authority over the name Malaysia International Marathon. It is governed by MAF," said Khairy. "I hope Danyal will adhere to the advice of his own executive board. I have asked to meet Danyal tomorrow (today)." Khairy refu...

It was more than just a run. Participants of the Chardikala Charitable Fun Run braved the heavy rain to get a glimpse of the world’s oldest marathon runner Fauja Singh who flagged off the 5km race at the Astaka Field, Petaling Jaya yesterday evening. The event attracted more than 1,000 participants with several runners from Kenya, Japan, India and Malaysia. Also present was Olympic Council of Malaysia secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi. Fauja, who is 101-years-old, was still in good spirits despite having ran in the Standard Chartered 10km Run in Singapore earlier in the day before visiting PJ. “Running is my medicine so I have to continue running,” said an expressive Fauja. “I am very happy to be here and I wish more people will take up running. Youngsters should be involved in sports as it is healthy and they will avoid taking drugs and committing other vices.” Fauja has taken the athletics scene by storm after his impressive feats since he started running in his l...