KL City Day Run - Part 3

KL City Day Run on 22 February at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur.

Please click here to view photos by courtesy of JASON LEE.
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I read in Star newspaper (Metro Section) on Wedn 25 February that FTAAA will continue to bar foreign runners without PR status from road races.

So in the KL City Day run on Sunday 22 February, the usual Kenyan runners that sweep all the top positions for men and women categories were all not within sight.

As reported, FTAAA’s aim is to encourage more local runners to take part as well as win the prizes. Unfortunately, some selfish people have taken advantage and roped in foreign participants for their own financial gain. They have to stop the unsporting practice.
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I was told by Steven Penguin-5 that he has seen the local people ferrying a big group of Kenyan runners -- in a battered old van -- to the starting venue and compete with the local runners.
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When the race was over, in my opinion, it is not surprise that they will then share the prize money with the local driver for the service rendered. Since the winners go up the podium to collect the prize money, the local driver would know exactly how much is the ‘catch’.

I could imagine that the local driver would also double up to help to register for the foreign runners. So it is another way of cari makan, both for the local drivers and the Kenyan runners -- effective business collaboration applying to running!
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I think there are two valid points to this issue: (1) some say it is good to have foreign runners to raise the standards of the local runners, (2) on the other hand, with the foreign runners, there is no chance for the local runners to win prizes. It is akin to trading in free market competition and in protected environment. Nevetheless, FTAAA has made the decision and acted accordingly.

Well, if nothing is being done, maybe one day, Steven would tell me that he sees the familiar van driver (still ferrying foreign runners) but the van could be a new one.
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Jason Lee

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Posted by KC

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