Response to The Straits Times Forum Letters on "Sunday's Run", "Plan a safer route for army mass run" and "Roads to church blocked"

We refer to the letters, Sunday Run published on 3 September 2011,

Plan a safer route for army mass runs and roads to church blocked? published on 8 September 2011. We would like to thank Ms Magdeline Shew, Mr Mani Shridar and Ms Angeline Chai for their feedback on the SAFRA Singapore Bay Run (SSBR) & Army Half Marathon (AHM) 2011. Prior to the event, the organising committee had met up with representatives from the management team of various establishments, including Funan DigitaLife Mall and St Andrew's Cathedral, to inform them of the road closures that would be put in place for the safety of runners, motorists and the general public. Information flyers on the road closures were distributed to mall tenants.

We also met up with the management of St Andrew's Cathedral to provide them with information so that they might notify their parishioners in advance and to explore ways we could help minimise inconvenience. Where feasible, we have made special arrangements to open barriers for employees, tenants and elderly parishioners to access affected areas during the run. Roads closed within the vicinity were also opened earlier than stipulated on race day. We would like to assure participants that their safety will always be a top priority for us. We thank Mr Mani Shridar for his feedback and suggestions on the running route. The organising committee recognises the support of businesses and entities in the vicinity and the general public for bearing with some inconveniences to make this national event work. We appreciate all the feedback and suggestions and will continue to find ways to improve the organization of future SSBR and AHM. Thank you.

Brigadier-General Perry Lim Cheng Yeow

Chairman Organising Committee, SAFRA Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon 2011

MINDEF's reply was published as "Mall and church informed, replies run organiser", The Straits Times, 15 Sep 11