KUALA LUMPUR: National athletes need not be worried about the issue of security during the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in New Delhi, India said Malaysian contingent Chef-de-Mission (CDM) Tan Sri Abdul Halil Abdul Mutalib.
Abdul Halil said athletes should just focus on their task ahead and not be worried about issues like security because the organisers had given their assurance that there would not be any security problems. Athletes should just concentrate on their training and leave issues of security to us because if there was any security issue, Wisma Putra would advise us, he said.
“Thus far we have not received any advise or warning from New Delhi as the host of the 19th Commonwealth Games from Oct 3-14.
“However, we will always monitor the situation in New Delhi, especially issues of security, through the Malaysian Embassy there but so far everything is fine,” he told reporters here yesterday.
The security alarm was raised following reports that the ruthless Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), a Sikh separatist group, may cause problems during the Commonwealth Games.
Abdul Halil said two National Sports Council (NSC) officers are in New Delhi to attend a seminar on safety during the games and to gather latest information of the situation there.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, Suresh Kalmadi when commenting on the latest security issue related to KLF said: “All is well in New Delhi.”
“Security is a critical component for the success of the Games. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and the Delhi Police will ensure that the Games are held in a safe and secure environment, not only at all the competition and non-competition venues, but throughout the length and breadth of the city of Delhi,” he said in the official Commonwealth Games website, yesterday.
Malaysia are expected to send 190 athletes who would be competing in 14 of the 17 sports organised in New Delhi. — Bernama