KEMAMAN: The Youth and Sports Ministry has no intention of postponing the Asean Para Games (KL 09) next week despite the threat posed by the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Its minister, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, said the five-day paralympic games beginning on Aug 15 would proceed as scheduled, and at the same time, preventive measures as outlined by the Health Ministry would be taken to protect the athletes and officials involved in the meet.

"No need to postpone...if we look abroad, many championships are going on despite the threat of the H1N1 outbreak.

"The athletes have stronger immunity against diseases compared to the ordinary people, and if they are infected, they will recover faster.

"For example, five students from the Bukit Jalil Sports School who had symptoms of the illness last week had quickly recovered. Furthermore, there's no need for us to prevent the foreign athletes from coming here merely because we are scared of the imported cases, whereas there are already many local cases which are more dangerous," he told Bernama here on Saturday.

He said this when approached after attending the Kemaman Umno division meeting opened by the Terengganu Menteri Besar, Datuk Ahmad Said, who is also the Kemaman Umno division head.

The KL 09 is expected to be participated by 1,200 athletes and officials from 10 Asean member countries and Timor Leste. (Bernama)