KUCHING, May 13 (Bernama) -- Race organisers nationwide should take lessons from the recent hit-and-run incident involving participants of the 2026 Borneo International Marathon (BIM2026) by strengthening safety measures throughout race events, said Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said adequate safety arrangements, including sufficient volunteers, security personnel and proper race route management, are crucial to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
“We hope organisers facing issues like this will learn from the lesson and not repeat it next year.
“We do not want incidents involving runners being hit by vehicles to happen. That is why there must be enough volunteers and security personnel to safeguard athletes, especially when roads begin to get busy,” he told a press conference on Kuching Marathon 2026 at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly building here today.
He said this when asked to comment on safety measures that should be prioritised following the hit-and-run incident during BIM2026 in Kota Kinabalu last Sunday.
Earlier reports stated that a runner and a RELA personnel were injured after they were believed to have been struck by a vehicle during the event. Both victims received immediate treatment from the event’s medical team before being taken to hospital for further treatment.
Abdul Karim also said organisers should prioritise participants’ comfort by ensuring sufficient and well-organised water stations along the race route.
“Runners also need to be careful. Do not run in the middle of the road and when approaching junctions, slow down and look left and right,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Karim said the 11th edition of Kuching Marathon 2026 will be held on Sept 27, with organisers targeting 16,000 participants from within and outside the country.
He said about 8,000 participants have registered for the event so far.
-- BERNAMA
