FED UP with all the uncertainty, Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) president Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin has again made his stand clear — get the Asean Para Games (APG) done and dusted with.
Shahriman said he agreed with Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria that the Vietnam Sea Games, scheduled for Nov 21-Dec 2, should not be postponed.
Any postponement of the Sea Games would certainly also cause the APG on Dec 17-21 to be postponed, as the two competitions are traditionally held back to back.
The 2019 edition of the APG, scheduled to be held in the Philippines, was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I concur with OCM, we want it to be held at the end of this year. We want to get it done with," said a frustrated Shahriman when contacted yesterday.
"Whatever the circumstances, we can find ways to manage them. We can enforce stricter SOPs and also conduct the games using a bubble concept.
"We can use the Tokyo Games as a model to follow.
"The reason I agree to go ahead with it this year is that not all Asean countries will be able to get vaccines soon (thus the pandemic will take time to come under control).
"If the Sea Games and APG are postponed to next year, and the pandemic situation is still the same, then what are we going to do? Postpone it for another three to four years?
"Why don't we, whether it is the Sea Games Federation or Asean Para Sports Federation, just postpone all (regional) games for the next five years?
"That way we won't have to waste the government's money and keep people on alert when nothing is moving," he quipped.
On a separate note, Shahriman made it clear that Japan has nothing to worry about the Malaysian contingent for the Tokyo Olympics, and Paralympics.
Reports have emerged that Malaysia may be barred from the Olympics after it was listed as one of the 10 countries by the Japanese government that may not be allowed entry into Japan for the games.
"Our contingent, which include athletes, coaches and all support staff, will be fully vaccinated by the time they head to Japan," said Shahriman.
"In addition to that, we are also adhering to strict SOPs even here in Malaysia. All athletes and coaches involved are being contained in a bubble.
"I believe Malaysia is one of the safest contingents that will compete in the games.
"As a fully vaccinated contingent, we should be subject to less quarantine days."