Johor Baru Hash House Harriers president Datuk A. Mahendran (right) flagging off a 8km run in Kulai on Saturday.This is part of five different runs during the Pan Asia Hash run in Johor between Oct 4 to 6.
KOTA TINGGI: The Desaru Hash Red Dress Run was supposed to be a fun run to raise funds for the Spastic Children's Association of Johor, says its organising chairman.
Datuk A. Magendran said that this event was among five different runs planned from Oct 4 to 6 involving some 2,000 participants from 30 countries.
“We have informed all participants about the need to maintain proper etiquette during this event. This was supposed to be a fun and social event as even families participated in it,” he said, adding that the indecent behaviour of a few had unfortunately marred the event following a viral online video.
On Saturday night (Oct 5), three participants were arrested including nationals from India and Taiwan after they stirred controversy for alleged indecent behaviour during their run on Friday (Oct 4).
Magendran added that the organisers, who raised about RM10,100 for charity, regretted the incident and were assisting in police investigations into the case.
He added that the pictures circulating on social media were taken during the 3.5km run in Desaru.
He added that the organisers have taken steps to ensure all members adhere to the rules and regulations for the remaining 8km individual runs in Desa Cemerlang, Sg Tiram, Kulai and Desa Tebrau.
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“All the other events went on smoothly without any hiccups. We have been planning for this event for almost two years,” Mahendran, who is also the JB Hash House Harriers president, said, adding that this was the first time Malaysia was picked to host a Pan Asia Hash run between Oct 4 to 6.
The previous one was held in Indonesia two years ago.
Hashing began in pre-World War 2 Selangor as a social and non-competitive combination of running and orienteering involving bands of ‘harriers’ and ‘harriettes’ that chased ‘hares’ who laid paper trails for participants to track. It is an activity based on a traditional British game that typically concludes with social drinking and fellowship.
Meanwhile, Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar said that police arrested three men, including two foreigners, for allegedly committing indecent behaviour during a controversial running event in Kota Tinggi.
He said the three suspects, including a local aged 39 to 70, were arrested at a hotel in Kota Tinggi at around 10pm on Saturday (Oct 5).
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“Their arrest is to help with the investigation over their involvement in carrying out indecent behaviour, including public exposure during the running event.
“Police also seized several accessories from the suspects including a red sari, a red skirt, three silver coloured cardboards with a fake spear shaft,” he said in a statement on Sunday (Oct 6).
Comm Kumar added that the three suspects tested negative for drugs. Further background checks found they have no prior criminal records between them.
“Initial police investigation found their action to be their own and did not represent the organiser or the running event that was organised,” he said.
Comm Kumar also added that the case was classified under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 and Section 294 of the Penal Code.
