ISKANDAR PUTERI: A group of parents and children were left waiting outside the Velodrome Iskandar Puteri for two hours after being barred from entering the cycling track.
According to the parents' representative, Mohamed Fairuz Jaafar, 41, they received an approval letter from the Johor Stadium Corporation to use the track on June 21.
“We were planning to use the track from today (July 9) until July 30, and some of us have driven all the way from Kuala Lumpur, Batu Pahat, Segamat, and Johor Baru to meet here.
“But, we were greeted by a closed gate and we were still not allowed to enter the premises even after showing the approval letter from the Johor Stadium Corporation,” he said when contacted.
Attempts to call the stadium general manager were also made but were not answered, he said.
Mohamed Fairuz informed that about 90 parents and children were then left camping outside the gate while waiting for an answer from the related agency before deciding to go home.
“We have also lodged a police report over the matter and hope the relevant authorities can shed some light on what happened today,” he added.
The children, aged between 7 and 18 years old, were BMX athletes who were planning to train for the Asian BMX Cycling Championship in September this year.
The parents, through the Kulai Cycling Association, sent a request letter to use the BMX track for training on June 20, which was approved by the Johor Stadium Corporation on June 21.
Meanwhile, Johor Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development, Cooperatives, and Human Resources Committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah, when contacted, said the Johor Stadium Corporation had written a rejection letter to the Kulai Cycling Association on July 6.
“I was informed that the corporation has issued a letter explaining the track situation and rejected their application to use it.
“Regardless, an investigation will be conducted to find out how this mishap occurred,” he said, adding that he will also be calling the association for an explanation.
Mohd Hairi also says that he would like to apologise to the parents and children for the inconvenience caused.
Meanwhile, Iskandar Puteri OCPD ACP Rahmat Ariffin has confirmed the police report on the case.
