KAJANG — Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has called on sports associations nationwide to minimise political practices, particularly during leadership elections.
She stressed that elections conducted at annual general meetings (AGMs) must be fair and transparent, warning that excessive politicking could harm the development of athletes and their coaches.
“Politics belongs in political parties. Sports associations should prioritise sporting activities,” Hannah said at the Netball Super League (NSL) 2025 Clinic, organised by Astro, here today.
Hannah’s remarks followed questions about the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association (KLHA) presidency race, where Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin faces accusations of forging nomination documents.
The allegations were raised by his opponent, incumbent I. Vikneswaran, ahead of today’s KLHA AGM.
Hannah said that disputes during AGMs or elections in sports associations are common but assured that the Sports Commissioner would take action if wrongdoing is proven.
“Every AGM is conducted under established laws and guidelines. If complaints arise, the Sports Commissioner will investigate, and in some cases, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) may get involved,” she explained.
On a separate matter, Hannah said the National Sports Council (NSC) evaluates the standards of world championships before deciding on rewards for athletes or teams.
She added that the standards of world championships differ, particularly in the number of participating countries.
“For instance, some World Cups involve five countries, while others have 100. These differences are why the MSN has its own methods of calculation and recognition. We must let them do their work and provide guidance,” she said.
The NSL clinic drew 149 secondary school students aged 13 to 17 from across Malaysia. — January 25, 2025