KUALA LUMPUR: The Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) have been provisionally suspended from conducting motorsports activities by the sport's governing body, the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM).
AAM president Tunku Mudzaffar Tunku Mustapha confirmed the suspension pending an enquiry, which was due to MAM's non-compliance with required safety standards in an incident involving the Educational Innovation Motosports Automotive Race (EIMARACE) in Kuantan on Sunday.
A 39-year old man and his five-year old daughter were killed when a buggy competing in the race veered off track and ploughed into spectators.
The race was held on a street circuit with plastic water barriers used as barricades on the straight where the incident happened.
As of yesterday, police had began investigations by recording statements from organisers Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and the wife of the victim, who was injured in the incident.
Tunku Mudzaffar said two AAM-licenced stewards, who were on duty at the EIMARACE event, have also been suspended and withdrawn from duty in this weekend's Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix.
"This is in line with the policies and procedures. As the sanctioning body, we have to suspend MAM pending enquiry.
"The two officials too have to be suspended as they were involved in an event which was non-compliant," said Tunku Mudzaffar.
While the AAM is the recognised national sporting association (ASN) for both the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and International Motorcycle Federation (FIM), there is an understanding that MAM would be allowed to carry out sanctioning of grassroots events.
"This was to help with development. But still, there are standards to be complied with which the MAM did not meet," said Tunku Mudzaffar.