Former sports commissioner Zaiton Othman calls on Malaysia Athletics to comply with World Athletics rules to avoid suspension risks.
FORMER Sports Commissioner Datuk Zaiton Othman has urged Malaysia Athletics (MA) to improve its governance and ensure full compliance with the constitution and guidelines of the World Athletics (WA).
The former national athlete said any amendments or decisions that contradict the constitution of the world governing body could invite action including the suspension or cancellation of MA’s registration.
Zaiton said if MA is subject to action, it risks Malaysia not being able to organise athletics events at the 2027 SEA Games, in addition to national athletes not being allowed to compete in international events recognised by WA.
“Athletics is one of the sports that contributes the most medals in the SEA Games besides swimming and shooting. Our concern is that we are the host and we are not organising athletics. That’s why we come forward to correct the situation,” she told reporters today.
She said the matter was among those raised by the Reformation in Sports and Excellence (RISE) representative when she met with Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari at the Parliament building today.
Also present were Olympian Datuk Karu Selvaratnam and former chairman of the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (YAKEB) Datuk Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed.
Athletics or track and field events offered 47 gold medals at the SEA Games, with the focus of course being the 100m blue ribbon event and the 4x100m quartet.
Zaiton, a former heptathlon athlete who was nicknamed the ‘Iron Woman’, said the concern was also shared by several former athletes and Olympians who were present because they did not want the performance of national athletes to be affected due to governance issues and compliance with regulations.
She said although the government could not directly intervene in the administrative affairs of sports associations, the Sports Development Act 1997 gave the ministry and the Sports Commissioner the space to reprimand and ensure that sports associations operated within the framework of the regulations set.
Earlier last month, MA president Karim Ibrahim was reported to have taken a leave of absence from leading the governing body until the Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for later this month to allow the MA constitution to be amended, in line with the WA constitution.
Prior to that, Karim’s status as president had been in the spotlight following the suspension imposed on him in 2018 by the world governing body, a decision that was later upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
However, he is still allowed to contest and serve on the Asian Athletics Federation Executive Council for the 2019-2023 term, even after the CAS decision.
