KJ: Explain why postpone women’s world squash meet

PETALING JAYA: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has called on the promoters for the Women’s World Squash Championship to reveal the real reason for postponing the tournament.

The promoters, Hallmark Events Group, cited security concerns in postponing the world meet, scheduled for Dec 11-18 at the National Squash Centre, Bukit Jalil and KLCC.

The Professional Squash Association (PSA) in a statement on Tuesday, confirmed that they are looking into the alleged security concerns and have appointed an independent consultant to conduct a security review.

The PSA also expects to receive a risk assessment report by the end of the week before making their final decision on the matter.

However Khairy believes that Hallmark should just come clean.

“We just hosted world leaders in KL. Should come clean about so-called security concerns or reveal real reason,” Khairy said in a Twitter posting.

He was referring to the 27th Asean Summit that was held in KL from Nov 18-22, that featured several world leaders including US president Barack Obama and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

On social media, speculations are rife that the proposed delay was due to Hallmark’s inability to secure financial sponsors.

If the world meet is called off, it will be second time in three years this has happened.

The 2013 edition was also postponed, before it was held in March 2014 in Penang.