KUALA LUMPUR, 11 Mei (NNN-Bernama) — The Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) special meeting today agreed to postpone the Malaysia Open Athletics Championship that was scheduled to take place at Bukit Jalil in June due to the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MAF president S M Muthu said the postponement had to be made after taking various aspects, including the athletes’ and officers’ movements and safety, into consideration.
He explained that the MAF did not want to risk going through with the championship although the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) was scheduled to end before the original date of the championship, from June 11 to 13.
Muthu said the last-minute postponement will increase the burden of the MAF as the organiser.
“We cannot do anything because it involves the current COVID-19 situation in our country, safety is paramount for all athletes. If possible, we (MAF) would want to organise many activities but for the time being, positive cases are rising,” he told Bernama Tuesday.
Monday, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced the enforcement of the movement restriction MCO nationwide beginning tomorrow till June 7 in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Meanwhile, Muthu said MAF, which is committed to organising various activities, will meet next month to determine the new date of the championship.
MAF had successfully organised the Malaysia Athletics Grand Prix from April 10 to 11 at the same location, the first competitive championship for the majority of the country’s athletes since COVID-19 swept through the country in March last year.
— NNN-BERNAMA