Running event organisers have been urged to established fixed routes on the city centre with DBKL and PDRM to reduce traffic disruption caused by road closures that always change. Minister in the prime minister’s department in charge of Federal Territories Hannah Yeoh suggested a set standard route based on distance.
“Three km, this route. Five km this route. Organisers can’t choose whichever route they want,” she told reporters on Saturday, reported by Bernama. “Just for this week, one run, 30 roads closed. I can’t accept this. I don’t want the public to not be able to plan their journey into the city. We need to ensure runs are orderly,” she added.
Yeoh said that the move is not to stop running events, but to ensure that such events can be carried out in an orderly manner without affecting traffic flow in the capital city, considering that over one million vehicles enter KL every day.
She added that organisers who need a different route (than the standardised ones) can consider other less congested areas, aside from making use of existing routes such as the one used by KL Car Free Morning. “KL is a city that needs orderliness. I don’t want the public to waste time waiting for hours for roads to open,” the Segambut MP said.
Fair points from the minister, who must be referring to the Coway Run that happened yesterday. Starting and ending at Stadium Merdeka, the running route was entirely in the city centre. However, in the days leading up to the event, organisers downgraded the 30 km run to just 10 km, citing health safety and uncertainties about air quality.
In any case, flag-off times for run events (5am for Coway’s 10K run, longer distances typically start much earlier) are typically in the wee hours of the morning where city roads are empty.
I can think of one exception – the Malaysia Marathon event at the end of August had its flag-off just past Saturday midnight, and with a flag-off point at Pavilion and a finish line at KLCC, the event set-up caused congestion in busy areas. I know, I was caught in the Saturday night jam around KLCC and returned to run the race a couple of hours later.
That run appeared to be strongly supported by the government though – deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and tourism minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing flagged off a category. Another run by the same organiser, Malaysia Sarong Music Run, flagged off at KLCC on a Saturday evening earlier this month. PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was there.
after i see Hannah is also part of Najib’s pardon board, i start to be skeptical about her if she is really that good of a person.
I think Ram will agree with you
Obviously you are are just katak, spent more time read proper news.
Or you just keyboard sucker? I want to type warrior but you dont deserve it
she has no power at all, she is there just for show, the person who makes the decision is the King. And she is bound to secrecy, she can’t reveal what happened in the meeting.
Also do you expect her to go against the King??
Cybertroopers working overtime..
pardon was given by both pahang and johor, you blame hannah yeoh ? really no bran
do not close any road for your shiok sendiri run , this is not your grandfather owned road. if you want to run do it in empty putrajaya or in a stadium or at langkawi .
This, I agree. I join running events too from time to time. But please la, what’s the appeal of running in the middle of the goddamn city. City runs should be banned outright. A nuisance to motorists, and an inconvenience to runners. Organize the runs outside of the damn city where we won’t disrupt the daily lives of regular commuters and traders.
Stadium te best place to run.
Firstly, sack the traffic chief.
Secondly pick routes that doesn’t disrupt people’s livelihood.
Thirdly UPDATE THE DAMN MAPS if roads are closed.
I agree with her suggestions. There needs to be a few fixed routes that is suitable for runs and would not disrupt traffic badly.
chill la, is sun morning 7-9am, most of you still in bed, malls around that area not even open yet.
Do you know how many run this month ? Road closure at night and weekend ?
Involve KLCC & Pavilion area
Here’s a thought.. Do the runs out of the city instead?
Lets see if the event will still go on since the haze today is particularly bad dont forget F1 too.
move all runs to putrajaya cyberjaya