Kuala lumpur: The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) will take stern action, including lodging a police report, if the Warzone World Championship (WWC) combat event scheduled for Dec 6 and 7 at Stadium Arena 9, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, proceeds as planned by the organiser. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh stated that the event, expected to feature fighters from Malaysia and Indonesia, cannot go ahead as it has not received official approval from the ministry.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the event, despite being promoted, is not listed among KBS’s approved events, meaning there is no permission for it to take place. Minister Yeoh emphasized the necessity for organisers to obtain KBS’s approval before hosting sports competitions, particularly those involving foreign participants. The approval process is essential to ensure safety for participants and spectators, with checks on insurance and permits.
Hannah noted that the application process typically takes about 30 days and that organisers must meet specific conditions to ensure safe execution of an event. She highlighted that public feedback, especially from parents, opposed the event as it conflicted with safe sports values. Concerns were raised after a promotional video showed children fighting, which many parents found inappropriate given ongoing issues with bullying.
The government, according to Hannah, is committed to protecting the younger generation and will not support content or events that could promote violence or bullying. Despite the potential reach of the event’s promotional content, the government prioritizes enforcing the Safe Sport Code. Hannah, alongside other ministers like Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri and Fadhlina Sidek, remains firm in their stand against endorsing such activities.
In a statement, Hannah reiterated that all sports events, especially those with international participation, must obtain approval from the Sports Commissioner of Malaysia in line with the Sports Development Act 1997. The promotional video for the championship faced public backlash for featuring a fight scene between child fighters from Malaysia and Indonesia.