KOTA BARU: A muay thai (kickboxing) “King of The Ring” competition at a popular shopping mall was disrupted when officers from the Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) tried to stop the event, saying the organiser did not get approval for it.

Malaysian Muay Thai Martial Arts Association patron Datuk Farek @ Fared Abdul Ghani expressed disappointment.

“Muay thai is popular among Kelantanese and we are disappointed that they tried to stop a positive event like this,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Fared claimed that sports event such as muay thai did not need any approval from the local authorities as it was not considered an entertainment programme.

He noted that his group had sought permission from the district police last week and also sent a letter to the MPKB informing it about the competition.

He said the MPKB had taken action against the shopping mall and the organisers by issuing a RM10,000 fine for holding the martial arts competition without a permit.

When asked if the fine was due to the inappropriate location, Fared said it had nothing to do with the venue.

Kota Baru Umno division head Datuk Fatmi Che Salleh, who was also at the press conference, said muay thai should be seen as a sport that could help create a positive impact on the lives of the Kelantanese youth.

The MPKB office could not be reached for comment.

The PAS-led state government has introduced many policies like single-sex queues in supermarkets and the ban on entertainment outlets such as cinemas.

-The Star-