THE usually calm monthly Shah Alam Car Free Day event in Dataran Kemerdekaan turned chaotic when participants of the Big Walk demanded medals although they were ineligible.
Some of participants flipped tables after finishing the walk when they were informed that they were ineligible for the medals due to prior conditions set by the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).
Held in conjunction with the Car Free Day's second year anniversary, the Big Walk drew some 6,000 participants, however, MBSA had only promised 1,000 T-shirts and medals with several conditions.
The conditions were: participants with ticket numbers from one to 200 would get T-shirts but had to be collected between 6am and 6.30am.
The remaining 800 T-shirts were given to participants that arrived early on the event day. However to redeem the T-shirt and "ring", they had to present an e-ticket from the JomRun app.
They were also eligible for medals that were to be handed out after the event. As proof they were given "rings" during the T-shirt redemption that would be exchanged after they completed the run.
These conditions were put up on social media as well as the JomRun application that MBSA used for the first time.
Things turned chaotic when some did not get the medals or the T-shirts but no untoward incidents occurred.
Social media users took to social media to vent their frustration on the MBSA January Shah Alam Car Free Day 2019 events page on Facebook.
Facebook user Luqman Danieyal said several participants had cut queue despite not queuing up earlier in the morning.
Another user Lina Idris Jamalullail responded to Luqman's post, saying she was disappointed with the mentality of some participants who refused to line up.
Facebooker Saya Red said he was disappointed that some runners allegedly provoked the crowd for not receiving medals despite MBSA's conditions.
"They were stubborn and insisted they wanted the medals because they arrived first but they did they think of us who were supposed to get it. Some of them even grabbed the medals and threw it on the floor. It is free, couldn't you have followed the rules?" he said.
Meanwhile MBSA's community development director Asmah Mohd Zin said those who insisted on medals for finishing early were probably outsiders who were unfamiliar with the Car Free Day programme.
"For the first time, we used the JomRun app, so it was open to outsiders as well. However, this is a fun run and I believe competitive runners had joined, expecting medals," she said.
Asmah said the details had been clearly put on their Facebook page but believes only those familiar with their events would have known the programme format.
She said the walk was a fun exercise that the entire family can participate. It is organised on the second Sunday of every month to promote a healthy lifestyle.
This is the first time, such an incident has occurred she added.
JomRun meanwhile posted an official statement that some of the runners who completed the route earlier thought that they deserved to get the medal even though they did not have the "ring".
"We refused to compromise as the medals should only be given to participants with the "ring".
"One woman participant entered our tent, grabbed a pack of medals and threw it out to the participants who were outside the tent. Then, everyone in front of our booth flipped our tables and invaded our tent to snatch the medals," read the statement from JomRun representative Yi Hern.
He said he instructed all of their crew members to leave the tent for safety, however, this meant that participants with the ring could not receive their medals.
"We hereby apologise on behalf of the unacceptable behaviour of a small proportion of the participants.
"We will discuss with the organiser (MBSA) to see what we could do and what we could improve in the Shah Alam Car Free Day," said the statement.
The Shah Alam Car Free Day saw participants walking 5km around the city centre with several activity stations placed along the route.
Bicycle enthusiasts even turned up to join the 5km walk.
people are sick
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