The Penang State Sports Council (MSNPP) today clarified that the incident involving an arrow striking a car on Jalan Macalister on Aug 13 was due to a technical fault with an athlete’s equipment.
Bernama reported the council as saying that investigations found the mishap occurred during a training session for the Sukma Games with the Penang Archery Association at SK Jalan Residensi.
“It was an unforeseen accident, despite World Archery-standard safety measures in place,” it said.
MSNPP said this was the first such incident since high-performance archery training began at the school field in 2009.
All training sessions at the venue have been suspended pending further safety measures, while alternative sites are being considered for the next Sukma preparations.
MSNPP also pledged full cooperation with the police and urged the public not to speculate on the case.
Earlier, police confirmed receiving a report about an incident involving a car being struck by an arrow on Jalan Macalister.
Northeast police chief Rozak Muhammad said the 57-year-old male driver filed a report, and investigations confirmed that the incident occurred at 3.30pm on Aug 13.
“While the complainant was driving from Air Itam towards Jalan Pangkor and passing through Jalan Macalister, an arrow, believed to have come from an archery activity, suddenly lodged itself onto the right rear door of his car.
“The man was unharmed in the incident, and the case is being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief,” he had said.
