KUALA LUMPUR – The National Sports Council (NSC) has stepped up efforts to foster a safer sporting environment by training 92 “focal point” officers responsible for implementing the Safe Sport Code across Malaysia’s national sports associations.
The move comes just days after former national cyclist Nor Effandy Rosli was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage trainee under his care – a case that has put fresh scrutiny on how sporting bodies prevent and respond to abuse.
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim, who launched the two-day training programme in Kuala Lumpur, said the initiative aims to empower designated officers to act as key agents of awareness and education on safe sport principles.
“The training equips focal point officers to identify offences and risks, manage complaints, report cases, and conduct outreach to ensure all athletes are protected,” the NSC said in a statement today.
The training involved officers from 57 national sports associations and is in line with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Safe Sports Framework, which stresses a collective responsibility to uphold athlete welfare from grassroots to elite levels.
The NSC said the goal is to build a “responsive and effective network” of officers able to drive a culture of prevention and accountability, ultimately reducing incidents of harassment and abuse.
Last week, Nor Effandy, 58, pleaded not guilty to a charge under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, accused of physical sexual assault against a 15-year-old trainee in June.
The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) has suspended his coaching licence pending the outcome of the case.
MNCF president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill stressed that Nor Effandy was coaching his own club, not any state or national team, at the time of the alleged offence.
He added that the federation “firmly upholds the principle that everyone involved in the sport of cycling has the right to a safe environment free from any form of harassment.”
Under the Safe Sport Code, all national associations are required to designate focal point officers to handle reports, ensure education programmes are implemented, and liaise with NSC and enforcement authorities when necessary.
The NSC said the latest training reflects its commitment to ensuring such safeguards are not merely policies on paper but are actively practised across the Malaysian sports ecosystem. — July 7, 2025