YOUTH and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has directed Sports Commissioner (SC) Zaiton Othman to lodge a police report against Klang City International Marathon 2017 organisers for holding the event without the approval of the SC’s Office.

“This is an offence under the Sports Development Act 1997. Upon conviction, the organisers are liable to a maximum fine of RM5,000, a jail term not exceeding six months, or both.

“All organisers of runs and marathons have to seek approval from the SC before applying for approval from sports associations, police and local authorities.

“Police are investigating an accident (that occurred during the marathon) after three runners were injured,” he told reporters after visiting one of the runners, Evelyn Ang Gek Suan, along with Zaiton at Sungai Buloh Hospital yesterday.

Khairy said the SC’s Office would blacklist the marathon organisers from conducting future events.

Ang, 44, suffered serious injuries to the head and jaw, while Ahmad Hadafi Jus, 44, and Amiruddin Hamid,37, suffered minor foot injuries in the accident at Batu 2, Jalan Kapar, at 4.30am on Sunday.

She is in stable condition after undergoing brain surgery to remove blood clots, but remains unconscious in the intensive care unit.

Khairy said the ministry planned to amend the Sports Development Act to make it compulsory for organisers to apply to the SC’s Office for approval 90 days before any event, so that there was time to scrutinise their readiness and finances.

“Long before this accident occurred, I had proposed the amendment to this act, where the fine would be raised to RM500,000 and the prison sentence extended.” – Bernama, December 12, 2017.