Malaysia saw another controversy erupt and again it is the Hindu community which is at the receiving end.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy and Gerakan Deputy Youth Chief H Puvaniten have criticized the organizer of this year’s Penang Run for being insensitive to the feelings and sentiments of the Hindus.
The organizer, ActifeStyle, has planned and is set to organize the run just a day after Hindu religious festival Deepavali, on October 30. Deepavali is going to be celebrated on 29th in Malaysia.
Free Malaysia Today reported that the Gerakan Deputy Youth Chief H Puvaniten said that :
“If you see previous records of other marathons or runs, people of Indian descent had won or did fairly well. By having this run so close to Deepavali, you are depriving Indians of the chance to join this program.”
He also wondered why the government failed to tell the organizers on organizing the run on another date.
Free Malaysia Today also wrote that the Penang Run 2016 is being organized by a largely unknown outfit called ActifeLifestyle with the cooperation of the Penang Island City Council (MBPP). They are offering a 21km competitive run and a 7km “fun” run this Oct 30. The first ten winners will receive cash prizes ranging from RM50 to RM500 and medals.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy underlined that the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) was supporting the run and he also said that he is asking MBPP to disassociate itself from supporting ActifeStyle. He also said that a mistake could have been made and the Penang government would take full responsibility for it.
He also ordered the organizers to apologize to the Hindu community.
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