HAVING been very close friends with two of the national dragon boaters who died in the tragedy in Cambodia, I am still finding it hard to get over their deaths.

I was previously part of a dragon boat team and I fully understand how a captain's decision on team issues can have much influence on the final call made by team managers.

While the captain of a team is in the position to influence the final decision on whether a team goes for a race, senior officials need to understand that the captain is also part of the team and that he or she is also about the same age as his or her teammates.

As much as the team members are raring to go, senior officials accompanying them should take a firm stand and say 'No' if the race conditions are not ideal, even if the race is a crucial one.

If the team members bear any grudges against the officials for that decision, so be it.

At the end of the day, safety should be the No. 1 priority and nothing should ever compromise it.

Mr Khoo Lih-Han

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