Ready to roll: Magendran (right) flagging off an 8km run in Kulai, one of five different runs during the Pan Asia Hash run in Johor between Oct 4 to 6.
KOTA TINGGI: What was to be a series of fun runs involving 2,000 participants including foreigners turned awry when some of them turned up for the opening event in attire described as unsuitable.
The five runs were scheduled in three districts of Kota Tinggi, Kulai and Tebrau.
However, the first 3.5km run around the popular tourist spot of Desaru on Friday got off to a bad start when some of the runners were said to be dressed inappropriately.
A video clip of the Desaru Hash Red Run went viral, sparking outrage on social media, with Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi pledging an investigation.
Police have to date picked up at least three of the participants involved who were an Indian national, a Taiwanese and a local.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar said the three suspects, aged between 39 and 70, were arrested at a hotel in Kota Tinggi at about 10pm on Saturday.
He said the investigation was over their alleged involvement in improper dressing and indecent behaviour.
“Police also seized several accessories from the suspects including a red skirt, three silver-coloured cardboards and a fake spear shaft,” he said, adding that all three tested negative for drugs.
Comm Kumar said an initial probe showed that the three acted on their own and did not represent the organiser of the running events, adding that the case was classified under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 and Section 294 of the Penal Code.
Onn Hafiz said the event was not organised by the state government or any of its agencies.
“The Johor government wishes to make it clear that it had no involvement in the organisation of the event. Neither the state government nor any state agency granted permission or leniency for any activity that disrespects the sensitivities of Islam in Johor. We will take firm action against those involved,” he said.
Onn Hafiz said the organiser had clarified to police that the incident did not reflect the intended objective of the event and what happened was beyond their control.
Event organising chairman Datuk A. Magendran, who is the JB Hash House Harriers president, said the fun runs were to raise funds for the Johor Cerebral Palsy Association.
He said the Desaru run was among five different runs scheduled between Friday and yesterday, with participants coming from 30 countries.
“We informed all participants about the need to maintain proper etiquette during the event. It was supposed to be a fun and social event with even families participating,” he said, adding that it was unfortunate some people behaved indecently.
Magendran said the organisers, who raised about RM10,100 for charity, regretted the incident and were assisting in the police investigation.
He said after the controversy involving the Desaru run, the organisers took steps to ensure all participants adhered to the rules and regulations for the remaining 8km runs in Desa Cemerlang, Sg Tiram, Kulai and Desa Tebrau.
“All the other runs went smoothly without hiccups. We have been planning for this event for almost two years,” said Magendran, adding that it was the first time Malaysia was picked to host a Pan Asia Hash run event.
