KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) is ready to withdraw as the organiser of the 2018 Asian Cycling Championships (ACC) if they do not get approval of the sports minister.
Its president, Datuk Abu Samah Abdul Wahab said the MNCF was prepared to accept any possibility to avoid bigger problems later on.
"If there is a problem with the procedure and the minister (Khairy Jamlauddin) says we do not follow the rules, then we are ready to withdraw.
"We do not want to create problems. The MNCF has explained the matter in the meeting with the Deputy Commissioner of Sports, Mohd Salleh Ghazali," he told reporters after the meeting, here, today.
Malaysia, via the MNCF, won the bid to host the 2018 ACC after two other countries, Thailand and South Korea, withdrew their bids.
Last week, Khairy said he was puzzled by Abu Samah's ignorance of the procedure to bid as host of international competitions.
Section 33 of the Sports Development Act said no person shall bid to host any international competition in Malaysia without the written approval of the sports minister.
Meanwhile, MNCF vice-president Datuk Amarjit Singh said there was a misunderstanding in interpreting Section 33 of the Sports Development Act.
"The MNCF has its own interpretation and that is why we hold this meeting to clarify things and the deputy sports commissioner is happy with the explanation.
"We have no intention of pre-empting the minister's decision. The youth and sports minister is always supportive of cycling."
Amarjit said they are ready to accept advice and views to improve the management of cycling.
"This episode should serve as a lesson to other sporting bodies in the country so that it does not recur," he added. -- Bernama