FTAA Free To Organise KLIM 2009

source from Bernama

The Malaysian Amateur Athletics Association (MAAU) today clarified that its organising of the maiden Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2009 in June had nothing to do with the Kuala Lumpur International Marathon (KLIM) which has been organised by its affiliate, the Federal Territory Amateur Athletics Association (FTAAA) the last 17 years.

MAAU vice president Karim Ibrahim said the FTAAA was free to continue organising the KLIM so long as the date for it differed by at least two to four months from that of the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2009.

"This is necessary to give enough rest time for participants of the two marathons. The 42-km full marathon, unlike other sports events, requires runners to be sufficiently rested in between marathons.

"There is no conflict between the two events and the FTAAA is free to source its own sponsors," he said when contacted by Bernama here.

Karim was responding to allegations by FTAAA vice president Leslie Armstrong last week that the MAAU was trying to deprive the FTAAA its right to organise the KLIM.

Karim added that MAAU was organising its own marathon to source additional revenue not only for it but also for its affiliates.

He also took to task the FTAAA for never having shared its profits from organising the KLIM with the mother-body.