Perak sports panel: Viral Sukma video not official material

IPOH: A minute-long clip of the 2018 Malaysia Games (Sukma) that has been slammed for similarities with a Taiwanese video is not the official promotional video, says the Perak Sports Committee.

Committee chairman Howard Lee Chuan How said the clip, which went viral on social media, was just a “sample” and an “unofficial tea- ser” to the three others that would soon be aired on RTM.

Perak is hosting Sukma this year. “The video was done by a third-party company in Kuala Lumpur. We made a mistake by not checking the video first before sharing it on social media,” he said here yesterday.

The clip, added Lee, was taken down from its official channels on Monday night.

People have slammed the Sukma clip for resemblances to Taiwanese director Gavin Yin’s Taiwan In Motion 2017 video.

Another 18-second clip was uploaded on social media, showing the parts similar to Yin’s video that was used to promote the 29th Summer Universiade in Taipei last year.

Lee said he contacted Yin on Monday night to explain the similarities in the Sukma video.

“He has gracefully accepted our explanation. Although the state government played no part or ordered the alleged plagiarism, we apologise unreservedly for the mis- take,” he said.

Lee said parts of the Sukma clip would still be used in the official videos for the games.

“There is still some genuine footage showing the beauty of Perak and our athletes.

“We’ve already informed the producer about it. There will be a different editing style,” he said.