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Tuesday January 22, 2013

Thaipusam day run organisers won’t budge


GEORGE TOWN: The organisers of the Penang Run 2013 which will be held on Thaipusam day are furious with certain politicians for trying to gain political mileage over the event.

Organising committee chairman Dr Kiew Hen Chong said quarters with political agendas were trying to create an issue.

“Please do not sabotage us. Why protest only now?

“We have more than 3,000 runners, including many from the Klang Valley, Ipoh, Kedah and Penang,” he said at a press conference here.

Penang Forward Sports Club chairman Lim Choo Hooi, an organising committee member, said the run on Sunday would not be cancelled.

He added that the event had attracted a sizeable number of Indian runners who were considered to be the elite in the running fraternity.

“This is a running event organised by Penangites for Penangites. It is purely a sporting event to boost the state's tourism.

“We were told that many participants from other states would come a day earlier to check out the Thaipusam celebration here before taking part in the run the next day,” he said.

It was reported that Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy had said that the organisers were “insensitive” for holding the event on the same day as Thaipusam.

The Penang DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) has demanded that the organisers call off the event.

Penang Run 2013, organised by Tanjung Social Club and Penang Forward Sports Club, is scheduled to start at 6am at the Stadium Olahraga Universiti Sains Malaysia.

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