OCM forced to change name of proposed Malaysian international marathon

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) will change the name of the proposed Malaysian International Marathon (MIM) 2015 to continue its pursuit to organise the run on May 23 and 24 as planned, at the Batu Kawan Stadium in Penang.

OCM vice president Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah said the OCM would change the name of the run to continue its aspiration to organise the run.

"We will continue with the programme and if the Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) does not want us to use 'International Marathon' we will change the name.

"Since the run is being organised together with the Penang Amateur Athletic Association (PAAA) there should be no issues because the PAAA is an affiliate of the MAF... according to the PAAA's constitution, the association is allowed to organise sports activities in the state.

"If a problem crops up it will be between the PAAA and MAF. It's not an issue of sanction but the problem is too much noise. Like I said before, the event is to collect funds for the National Sports Associations," he said after attending an OCM board meeting, here Tuesday.

MAF President Datuk Karim Ibrahim had earlier stressed that the federation would not sanction the run and that any international run organised without a sanction would incur the wrath of the International Athletics Associations Federation's (IAAF).

The run, which offers RM350,000 as total prize money, is being organised by the OCM for the first time, purportedly to collect funds that can assist associations that faced financial problems.

Meanwhile, OCM president Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar said the OCM may change the name to Tuanku Abdul Halim Bridge Run but such a proposal would have to be discussed with the Penang state government and also the sponsors.