IPOH: The open water swimming competition in Lumut, which saw some 40 participants, including a prince, being stung by jellyfish, was organised without referring to the local authorities.
The organiser should have at least consulted the Malaysian Maritime Department for information regarding the jellyfish threat in the area, said state human resources, health, Indian community affairs and national integration committee chairman A. Sivanesan.
“The organiser is a private company from outside Perak. We did not know about the event... even the sports and health executive committees did not know about it.
“This is a lesson to outsiders who want to organise activities... they must refer to the local authorities.
“Luckily, there was no untoward incident,” he told reporters after an event at Royal Club Ipoh here yesterday, Bernama reported.
On Saturday, it was reported that at least 40 people who joined the Teluk Senangin Open Water Swim 2025 competition were stung by jellyfish and needed hospital treatment.
The organiser also confirmed that the Raja Kecil Besar, Raja Azlan Muzzaffar Shah – the son of the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah – was one of the participants who competed in the 3km men’s junior 12-19 age group.
Sivanesan said two of the injured participants have been discharged from Hospital Manjung, while those treated as outpatients are in stable condition.
Meanwhile, event organiser AMMJB Swimmers Event & Clinics posted on Facebook that Raja Azlan only suffered minor injuries to his hand and is in good condition.
“He is in good condition and healthy despite a minor injury on his hand due to being stung by jellyfish.
“Any allegations that he suffered serious injuries or [any claim] that can tarnish the good name of the royal institution are baseless and an attempt to cause confusion and discredit the competition,” it added in the post.
