MPC to send letter protesting postponement of ASEAN Para Games
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) will send a protest letter to the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) next week regarding host nation the Philippines’ reported decision to postpone the 2020 ASEAN Para Games (APG) from March 20-26 to May 26-June 2.
Its president Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin said he only learnt about the postponement after Philippine Paralympic Committee president Michael Barredo last week announced swimmer Ernie Gawilan as their flag-bearer for the games.
Megat Shahriman claimed that Barredo had made a ‘unilateral’ decision without discussing with the APSF council members, and his action contravened the federation’s procedures for hosting the games.
Only Malaysia and Singapore did not agree with the Philippines’ decision to postpone the APG for the second time, Megat Shahriman told a press conference here yesterday.
He said APSF had rejected the Philippines’ request to postpone the APG for the second time based on several factors.
Among the reasons were the Philippines had failed to hand over competition guidelines plan to APSF, no assurance on measures that would be taken by the Philippine government to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and APSF was not consulted by any parties regarding the Games organisation status.
Bernama
