KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin wants the organisers of the Klang City International Marathon 2017 to be investigated by police and charged in court.
He also urged participants of the illegal race to sue the organisers and demand a refund.
Khairy said it was clear that the organiser had held an illegal sporting event.
“Failure to get a licence from the Sports Commissioner’s Office is a breach of Section 36 of the Sports Development Act 1997.
“It is only right for the organiser to be investigated by the police and charged in court for breaking the law.
“Participants of the marathon should demand a refund and sue the organiser if it refuses to do so, as they (the organisers) had made false representation,” he said, adding that the ministry will lodge a police report and administratively blacklist the organiser.
Khairy said the ministry is at the same time, pushing for stiffer penalties to be meted out to event organisers who break the rules. He said that currently, the law imposes a fine of not more than RM5,000 and imprisonment of not more than six months, or both, upon conviction.
He said an amendment to Section 36 of the Sports Development Act 1997 will be submitted for review to the Attorney General’s Chamber.
“We want a heavier fine of RM500,000 and for the prison term to be extended.
“It should also be made compulsory for organisers to apply for a licence 90 days prior to an event,” he told reporters when met at the Sungai Buloh Hospital today.
He added that sporting events sanctioned by the Sports Commissioner’s Office can be viewed on the Youth and Sports Ministry’s website from tomorrow (Tuesday). This, he said, is being done to protect participants from enlisting in sporting events which do not have proper permits.
Khairy was at the hospital to visit Amiruddin Hamid, 37, and Evelyn Ang Gek Suan, 44, who were hospitalised after they were hit by a car during the Klang City International Marathon 2017 on Sunday.
Also present during the visit was Sports Commissioner Datuk Zaiton Othman.
She said the upcoming Klang Heritage Marathon 2018, formerly known as the Selangor Marathon 2017, has been cancelled in the wake of the incident.
She said the organiser’s application was rejected in order to allow for further security checks on the planned event.
A 27-year-old driver - who allegedly lost control of his vehicle and rammed into the runners from behind - has since been arrested.