Kuala Lumpur:Running event organisers in the capital have been advised to standardise their routes with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to reduce disruptions caused by frequent road closures.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh suggested establishing standard routes based on specific running distances. She emphasized that organisers should adhere to these predefined paths instead of selecting routes arbitrarily.
Yeoh highlighted the importance of coordination so that road users can be informed in advance about affected routes, enabling them to plan their journeys effectively. She expressed concerns about the excessive number of road closures, citing an instance where 30 roads were closed in a single week for a running event.
The minister clarified that the intent is not to prevent such events but to ensure they are conducted in an orderly fashion without disrupting the flow of traffic, especially considering that over a million vehicles enter Kuala Lumpur daily.
Yeoh also suggested that organisers explore less congested areas or utilize existing routes like those used for the Car Free Day programme to accommodate different running events. She stressed the need for efficient organization to prevent unnecessary delays for residents and visitors in the city.