KUALA LUMPUR: The fatal accident that occurred during the Langkawi Legendary Ride (LLR) yesterday (Sept 6) should open the eyes of organisers to the importance of event safety.
That is the view of Malaysia National Cycling Federation (MNCF) president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill.
Low Beng Seng, 28, tragically lost his life after falling on his bike onto the opposing lane along Jalan Kuala Muda and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. A dashcam video of the incident has gone viral.
Amarjit said both the Royal Malaysian Police and MNCF will investigate the accident.
“First of all, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family. It was a tragic accident that you never want to see happen,” said Amarjit when contacted today (Sept 7).
“I don’t want to preempt what transpired because the video (that went viral) was very brief. Maybe there were (safety) marshals, maybe there were none.
“This is something I will personally look into once I return to Malaysia later today. MNCF will investigate the safety aspect of the event. We want to find out what safety protocols they followed.
“What is important now is to avoid speculating and give space to the Royal Malaysian Police to conduct their investigation which I believe falls under Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987.”
Amarjit, who is currently in Oman for the Tour of Salalah, said LLR was not sanctioned by MNCF though did receive approval at the state level via the Kedah Cycling Association.
“There are a lot of these fun rides or jamborees being held all across Malaysia on a weekly basis and the cyclists that take part in these events believe they are in a protected environment,” he added.
“It is a wake-up call for all cycling event organisers. They must take safety very seriously when organising events, it is of paramount importance.
“We have always stressed the importance of having cycling events sanctioned by MNCF.
“This way we can ensure that all necessary safety precautions are implemented. There are many steps (safety requirements) that have to be adhered to.
“This (MNCF safety protocols) has been proven effective in ensuring the safety of participants during cycling events.”
LLR, which has been held since 2019, attracted over 1,000 cyclists in its fifth edition this year.
The cyclists competed in three categories of races – 30km, 68km and 101km. Beng Seng was competing in the 68km category.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
