GEORGE TOWN: The organiser of the Penang Run 2016 has apologised to the state’s Hindu community for holding the event on Oct 30, just a day after Deepavali.
Nevertheless, spokesman Andrew Loh Lean Hock said he regrets that Penang Gerakan has chosen to politicise the event, in spite of the organiser’s sincere apology.
In spite of the controversy, the run will not be rescheduled.
Loh said he does not wish to be dragged further into “political games” by Gerakan, which he says is simply using the 2016 Penang Run to attack the Penang state government.
"I hope that the 1,780 participants, including 56 Indians (more than the 38 Indians who participated in July this year), will be allowed to promote the event's objective of encouraging a clean and healthy lifestyle in Penang.
"Let me reiterate that the Penang state government is not the organiser and the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is merely providing technical assistance.
“Actife Style Events is the principal organiser of the event," he said in a statement issued yesterday.
Loh said Gerakan has continued to politicise the Penang Run 2016, even though they had kept silent on the Penang Run 2013, which was held on Thaipusam itself.
"Neither the organiser, nor any party, had to apologise for organising the 2013 Penang Run on Thaipusam,” he added.
Earlier, Penang Gerakan Youth vice chairman Puvaniten M. Helan Govan said Deputy Chief Minister II Prof. Dr P. Ramasamy had failed to persuade the organiser to postpone the event.
It was reported that Ramasamy had asked the organiser to postpone the event, as he deemed holding it so close to Deepavali as insensitive.
Ramasamy had called for the MBPP to disassociate itself from Actife Style Events and admit that a mistake had been committed.
He also said that the state government is not involved in the event, but that the MBPP is supporting it.