BANGI – The appointment of Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria as deputy chairman of the Road to Gold (RTG) programme is intended to shield the initiative from political instability, says Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
“As I explained in Parliament, this decision ensures the RTG programme remains unaffected by political changes.
“If a ministerial vacancy arises due to political circumstances, the deputy chairman will take charge and ensure RTG meetings continue without disruption,” she told reporters at the National Athletes’ Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) Partners’ Aspiration Ceremony today.
Norza, who is also president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), previously co-chaired RTG alongside Hannah since the programme’s inception in early 2023.
However, a statement from the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) today confirmed that Hannah will now serve as chairman, with Norza assuming the role of deputy chairman.
Additionally, KBS announced the appointment of former National Sports Institute (NSI) CEO Datuk Dr Ramlan Abd Aziz and former Malaysia Swimming Federation (MS) secretary-general Mae Chen as RTG committee members for the 2025-2026 term.
Their appointments, approved by the National Sports Council (NSC) board of directors last Thursday, bring extensive experience to the programme. — March 24, 2025