LODGE POLICE REPORT IF THREATENED, EXCO TELLS PERAK ATHLETES

IPOH, May 8 (Bernama) -- The state government has advised athletes in the state who have been threatened or intimidated by any party to report the incident to the police.

Perak Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Khairudin Abu Hanipah said the move is the safest step to prevent unwanted actions from happening.

"On the part of the state government itself, we also have to make sure the security of the sports facilities such courts and fields are given due priority.

"The use of the Safe Sports Code introduced by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) before should also be practised by every athlete to ensure no untoward incidents happen to them," he said.

He said this at the Perak State Sports Excellence Incentive Presentation Ceremony and the Sarawak Sukma 100-day Countdown and Aidilfitri 2024 Celebration Ceremony with Perak state sportsmen at Galasa Caldwell here, today.

On May 2, Terengganu FC (TFC) footballer Akhyar Rashid was injured in the head after being robbed by two armed men in an incident that occurred in front of a condominium in Kuala Terengganu.

Three days later, Selangor FC striker Faisal Halim suffered fourth-degree burns after being splashed with acid by two motorcyclists in Petaling Jaya and today, former national football team captain Safiq Rahim's car window was also broken by unknown individuals near Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) training centre in Sri Gelam, Johor Bahru.

In other developments, Khairudin said Perak FC and the Perak State Sports Council (MSN) have reached an agreement to ensure Perak's participation in the football event at the Malaysian Games (Sukma) in Kuching is realised.

He said with the participation he denied rumours claiming that Perak would withdraw from the event.

"There is no more talk of Perak FC is not helping and so on. We decided on that matter in a meeting held two weeks ago chaired by me.

"We have high hopes that football can also become champions because historically we are one of the favourite teams and have won the gold medal three times in this tournament," he said.

On March 23, Perak FC chief executive officer Bobie Farid Shamsuddin insisted that Perak FC would likely not release their under-20 players to participate in Sukma in Kuching which will take place from August 17 to 24. 

In the same statement, he announced the decision was made due to insufficient sponsorship and financial factors provided by MSN Perak.

-- BERNAMA