We can organise other events, says Dr M after M’sia dropped as host
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is not perturbed about the country losing the right to host the 2019 World Para-Swimming Championships.
Malaysia was dropped by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) after it announced that it would ban athletes from Israel from competing.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is not perturbed about the country losing the right to host the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships.
Malaysia was dropped by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) after it announced that it would ban athletes from Israel from competing.
“If they want to cancel, then cancel lah.
“I find that the world has to follow Israel, I don’t understand it,” Mahathir said today.
He was asked to comment on the matter after attending an event with Putrajaya Corporation top executives in the administrative capital.
The prime minister said Malaysia would stand by its principle that Israel was a “criminal nation” which broke international laws without reproach from other nations.
Malaysia does not keep diplomatic ties with Israel.
Asked if being dropped would jeopardise Malaysia’s chances to host other international sporting events in the future, Mahathir brushed off such concerns.
“If we can’t organise the Olympics, we can organise other events,” he remarked.
Malaysia was originally supposed to hold the para swimming championship from July 29 to Aug 4 in Kuching, Sarawak.
The event, a qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, was expected to host some 600 swimmers from 60 countries, reported Reuters.
Yesterday, the IPC president Andrew Parsons said Malaysia had assured back in 2017 when it won the hosting bid that athletes from all countries would be allowed to compete in the meet.
"Since then, there has been a change of political leadership and the new Malaysian government has different ideas.
"Politics and sport are never a good mix and we are disappointed that Israeli athletes would not have been allowed to compete in Malaysia,” he had said in a statement.
The IPC is now seeking a new host for the swimming competition.
Sports must be free from politic!
“If we can’t organise the Olympics, we can organise other events,” says TunM. Is that a "let them eat cake" moment?
the whole world is wrong, only you alone are right..