KUALA LUMPUR – Parents of Kuala Lumpur Cycling Association (KLCA) cyclists have expressed their anger at coach Datuk Ng Joo Ngan for allegedly putting their children’s safety at risk.
According to them, the cyclists were left at the side of the road after failing to keep pace with the elite team.
Parent representative Nor Azila Ab Razak said in a press conference here today that the youth squad would often go out and train with the elite team.
“But when you are 13 to 16 years old, it will be difficult to keep pace with older, more experienced riders.
“When these youngsters get tired, they will have to stop to take a breather. However, the coach would just move on with the other elite cyclists, leaving them by the roadside.
“My 13-year-old daughter was one of those who was just left all alone at the side of the road, away from the coaches’ and parents’ supervision.
“She has been left all by herself three times in Bukit Hantu, Hulu Langat area, where it is quiet, remote, and difficult to get phone signals,” said the 41-year-old parent of Nur Dayana Qamelia Nazrul Nizam.
Nor Azila said that her husband would normally go and find their daughter as the youngster would ride her bike up a hill just to get cellphone service so that she could call her father.
“If you are a parent, how would you feel? Your 13-year-old daughter was left all alone to fend for herself, and this has happened to other junior cyclists as well.”
She added that the riders are also not provided with food while training for long distances.
“When they go for long rides, they will travel over 100km.
“Each rider will only have one bottle of water as they will not be provided with replenishments,” said Nor Azila.
Meanwhile, youngster Nur Dayana said that she will always be worried for her safety as the area where she was left all alone was a long way from a town or city.
“It was close to an Orang Asli village and it was pretty remote. I was afraid that I could have been kidnapped or anything untoward could happen to me.
“I was really sad that I was left all alone by my coach. Why would he do that? I can’t keep pace with the elite team,” she said. – March 23, 2024