JOHOR BARU: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), which organised the Education Innovation Motorsports and Automotive Race (EIMARace) in Kuantan, Pahang that saw two spectators killed in an accident today, said it had taken all necessary safety precautions at the event.
UTM vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Wahid Omar said that water barriers and safety tape partitions were set up at the race, while security personnel were also on hand.
He said the safety precautions were in line with recommendations by the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM), the body which manages motoring sports in the country.
“The outdoor track in Indera Mahkota, Pahang was proclaimed safe by the MAM for the race, which involved 51 teams from public and private higher learning institutes,” he said in a statement.
Wahid said he was deeply saddened over what happened and conveyed his condolences to the victims’ family. He also said that for the time being, UTM would leave the case to the police to be investigated.
He said the 11am incident involved two of its buggies in the 131cc vehicle category race.
Company supervisor Izwan Isa, 39, and his four-year-old daughter Nurzulaikha Izwan, were killed at the scene when the buggy slammed into spectators .
His wife, teacher Siti Suhaiza Seman, 38, and son Muhammad Izz Danial Izwan, 7, are in critical condition at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, Kuantan.
Wahid said the EIMARace involved modified four-stroke engine vehicles of the 131cc and 250cc variants. The first EIMARace was held in 2009 at the Datuk Sagor Race Track, Kampung Gajah, Perak.
The races were later moved to Bakri, Muar before it returned to the race track in Kampung Gajah. Since last year, the race was held in Indera Mahkota, Pahang in collaboration with the state government to promote Visit Pahang Year 2017.
“Since its inception, UTM was given the honour of managing the race in the aspects of technical, safety, selection of tracks and obtaining MAM approval,” he said.
Wahid said that UTM deputy vice chancellor (student and alumni affairs) Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ismail Abd Aziz visited the victims’ family in Kuantan today.
