The organiser of the annual Penang Run has apologised to the state's Indian community for holding the event a day after Deepavali.

Actife Style Concept Sdn Bhd spokesperson Andrew Loh Lean Hock said the event was planned in March 2016, long before Deepavali.

"We were looking for a long weekend for runners to come for the run and the date also coincided with the national race calendar, " Loh said in a statement today.

"At the time, I didn’t realise that October 30 would be the day after Deepavali.

"I deeply regret having the event during the Deepavali celebration. I mean no disrespect to Indians in Penang.”

Loh clarified that the Penang government was not the organiser of the run, while the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) was merely providing technical assistance.

Yesterday, Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy and state Gerakan youth vice-chief H Puvaniten slammed the organiser and MBPP for being insensitive to Indians who are celebrating Deepavali on Oct 29. 

Ramasamy urged the organiser to postpone the run to a later date, and asked MBPP to disassociate from supporting the company.

He also denied that the Penang government was involved in organising the event.

The Penang government was criticised for a similar incident in 2013, for supposedly organising the Penang Run on the day of Thaipusam even though it was not the organiser.

In a statement yesterday, Ramasamy vowed to ensure that future events will not be held during major festive seasons, to respect the multiracial and multireligious character of Malaysia.

Puvaniten had said holding the event near the Deepavali celebrations would bring “negative impact” to the community.