Kota Kinabalu: City Hall (DBKK) will act against the organiser of Sunday’s controversial Songkran Sunset Splash Run if it was found to have breached approval conditions, including on water usage, cleanliness and public safety.
It said in a statement, Monday, that it takes the matter seriously and has directed the organiser to carry out immediate clean-up works and restore affected areas to their original condition.
It said there would be no compromise on any breach of event regulations and that appropriate action would be taken in accordance with existing laws and guidelines.
It also clarified that it was not directly involved in organising the event and approval granted was subject to full compliance with stipulated conditions.
It said it supports events that benefit Kota Kinabalu but that all organisers must fully comply with approval conditions and prioritise public safety, cleanliness and the wellbeing of the general public.
The backlash came amid ongoing water supply disruptions in parts of Kota Kinabalu, prompting criticism from residents, including Karambunai Assemblyman Datuk Dr Aliakbar Gulasan, who questioned the appropriateness of holding a water-splashing event during a dry spell.
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Aliakbar, in his post uploaded on TikTok, said residents in Sepanggar and Karambunai were facing water shortages in several areas and that his office received numerous public enquiries about how an event that involved water wastage and of foreign culture could have been approved.
He said he was informed that water had been ferried to the venue using water tankers, which he described as wasteful given current conditions.
He called on the organiser and local authorities to exercise greater vigilance in future to avoid perception of squandering resources while parts of the community were suffering from water shortages.
“This should not have happened at a time like this,” he said, referring to the tankers hosing down participants.
The organiser, KSRun Athletic Club, in a statement on its Facebook page, acknowledged public concerns and apologised for failing to anticipate sensitivities surrounding the event’s concept and water use.
They maintained that all water used during the event had been purchased by them and was planned six months in advance.
It said the Songkran Sunset Splash Run was a fun run with a water activity element incorporated into post-run activities and clarified that the event was not intended to replicate any specific cultural or traditional festival.
On the use of the name Songkran which is synonymous with a Thailand event of similar nature, it said the name was chosen for its Sanskrit roots, which carry the meaning of movement, transition and change, concepts they said aligned with the spirit of a running event promoting activity, energy and positive experiences.
They also said the event appealed to visitors outside Sabah, pointing out that 30 per cent of participants came from outside the State, including from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak and Brunei, while another 30 per cent were tourists.
It said a further 10 per cent were walk-in tourists who learnt of the event through local hotels and 20 per cent came from outside Kota Kinabalu.
They said participants had made early commitments, including registration fees, accommodation bookings and flight arrangements, and that as organisers, they felt a responsibility to deliver the best possible experience in return.
“We acknowledge that in our efforts to prioritise participants’ experience and create meaningful memories, we may have overlooked certain public sensitivities and perceptions. For that, we sincerely apologise,” it said.
The organiser also said it would be more mindful in selecting event names going forward to avoid misunderstanding and are committed to improving communication and public awareness in future event planning.
