`


THERE IS NO GOD EXCEPT ALLAH
read:
MALAYSIA Tanah Tumpah Darahku

LOVE MALAYSIA!!!


 


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

OCM: DBKL wanted venue change for 'security reasons'


The Olympic Council Malaysia (OCM) explained that KL City Hall (DBKL) yesterday asked it to change the venue for its Olympic Day Run this Sunday because of "security reasons".
It was also because the local government had openly stated the venue was Padang Merbok despite the sporting body promoting it as Dataran Merdeka.

"They were all the time talking Padang Merbok, they forgot we already had approval for Dataran Merdeka," OCM honorary secretary SIeh Kok Chi told Malaysiakini's affiliate internet television station, KiniTV today.

NONESieh however clarified that he assumed that City Hall forgot that the sporting body had obtained two approvals, one to use Padang Merbok and another to use Dataran Merdeka as the venue for the same event, as maybe change of personnel or that the approvals were made long ago, caused the mix-up.

He explained that the approval for Padang Merbok was obtained by OCM from DBKL in January 2012, but later as the expected number of participants increased, they changed the venue to Dataran Merdeka, applying and obtaining another approval in April 2012.

Sieh added they however never cancelled their Padang Merbok approval.

When KL Mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib realised that they were two approvals as opposed to his insistence that the approval for the OCM run was only for Padang Merbok, Sieh said that the DBKL head asked him to pick only one venue but recommended Padang Merbok.

"As he had openly said we are having it in Padang Merbok, he said (we should have it there) also for other reasons one being security, better use Padang Merbok," revealed the OCM honorary secretary.
 'Political interference'
He was asked to comment on the sudden last minute venue change of the OCM run that it had posted on its Facebook page today, which caused a buzz amongst netizens who began crying 'conspiracy'.

NONEPKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli (right) also labeled it as political interference to thwart their Black 505 Rally planned for June 22 at Padang Merbok.

Sieh also said that as they now have to use Padang Merbok for the event they will need the venue at least one day before to build a stage and a ramp from Jalan Parlimen to the field as the road is significantly of higher elevation than the field, to accommodate the runners who will be turning into the field from the road.

If the event was for Dataran Merdeka he said, they would not need the venue earlier for preparations as the site is the same level as the road and already has a stage.

Asked how much time was needed get Padang Merbok ready on June 22 prior to the run the next day, he said it was up to the contractors.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.