KJ and Ong united on sporting regulations
Both MPs agree on ‘Evelyn Ang amendments’
PETALING JAYA: The general election is approaching but this has not stopped Umno’s Khairy Jamaluddin and DAP’s Ong Kian Ming from putting aside political differences to push for tighter regulations on sporting events, following the death of marathoner Evelyn Ang.
Ong, the Serdang MP, took to Facebook yesterday to thank Khairy, the Youth and Sports Minister, for tabling amendments to the Sports Development Act 1997 before the end of the current Parliament session.
Ong believes that Khairy and his team are committed to improving the quality of race events in Malaysia.
“We just need the stakeholders to come together to fulfil this objective,” he posted on Facebook.
He also thanked Khairy for “walking the walk”, adding that sports is one of the things that unite-Malaysians.
Ong said as long as he is an elected representative, he would do everything he can to improve safety standards of running events in Malaysia.
“Running is an activity which brings together Malaysians regardless of background, race, religion, language, height, weight, gender or speed,” he said.
Khairy responded to Ong’s comments via Instagram, thanking him for his suggestions during the debate in Parliament.
“Thank you YB for your thoughtful suggestions which we plan to incorporate when preparing the regulations to the Act,” he said.
Khairy also said he had informally referred to the relevant changes as the “Evelyn Ang amendments”.
He hoped the changes and subsequent regulations would help protect runners.
The proposed amendments have come after a mishap involving three runners in the Klang City International Marathon 2017 who were injured in a car crash on Dec 10.
The car accident resulted in pacer Ang being hit from behind. She suffered a cranial fracture and bleeding in the brain and never woke up from a coma. She passed away on March 1.
The remaining two runners sustained head and hand injuries, although not as severe as Ang’s.
Khairy said the proposed amendments include raising the fine to RM500,000 and extending the jail sentence on organisers who do not comply with regulations.
Errant event organisers are currently liable to a maximum fine of RM5,000 or jail not exceeding six months, or both.