The Malaysian under-23 men's football team finally arrived in Vientiane at noon Tuesday for the Laos SEA Games after their flight could not take off on Monday due to clearance problems. They took off at 8.00am from the Subang Air Force base.
It is realiably learnt that FAM was not able to get the proper landing clearance in time for the flight to take off. The chartered plane belongs to the military.
Officials were surprised at the way the arrangements were made. At first the whole team mwere booked to fly on Air Asia but FAM asked for a change, but later wanted to fly with the commercial airline again.
Having lost a day already, the team would be doing light training before their opening match in Group A against Timor Leste tomorrow at 3pm (Malaysian time 4) at the newly built national stadium.
Malaysia's second match will be against Vietnam on Sunday, Cambodia on Dec 8 and defending champions Thailand on Dec 11. Hopefully their return travel arrangements have been properly done.
All the matches will be played at the National Stadium except the match against Cambodia, which will be played at the Chao Anouvong Stadium. Group B comprises Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Indonesia.
Uncle Jow, I did not know that our military are in the business of chatering planes? Is this allowed under the Department of Civil Aviation regulations. By the Military am I correct to say that it is the Royal Malaysian Air Force or does the plane belomgs to another body. Does the athletes have insurance coverage in this trip?
ReplyDeleteI am aware that the Malaysian Goverment have access to the use of the planes to fly Mercy Mission, like what happened during the recent earthquate in Padang and also the Tsunami in Ache.
If the arrangement is much cheaper perhaps you can inform OCM of the next available means of transport.