KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Athletics (MA) president Datuk Karim Ibrahim has firmly rejected claims that his leadership has undermined checks and balances within the governing body, insisting instead that athlete and coach welfare has remained central to his administration since taking office last year.
Karim, who has faced questions over his eligibility to hold the post, said a series of governance reforms have been introduced since his re-election in June last year, aimed at strengthening transparency and operational standards within the association.
He said these measures include engagement sessions with former national athletes in January 2026, as well as the refinement of policies and guidelines covering key areas of governance.
“These include the implementation of a safe sport code, standard operating procedures (SOPs) for approving competitions such as marathons, enhanced medical and anti-doping requirements, and a contractor registration system,” he said in a statement to Scoop today.
Karim stressed that MA remains open to constructive feedback from all stakeholders, particularly former athletes, in ensuring the organisation continues to operate in a transparent and professional manner.
He cited a meeting held on January 3 with former national athletes as part of this engagement process, where discussions covered coaching contracts, incentive payments for retired athletes, their involvement in coaching, talent identification programmes, the need for foreign coaching expertise, competition organisation, athlete motivation, and the broader role of former athletes in sports development, including proposals for a dedicated representative body.
Among those present were former national athletics head coaches Mohd Zaki Sadri and Nordin Jadi, along with Nur Herman Majid, Zaiton Othman, G. Shanti, Sajarutuldur Hamzah, Annastasia Karen Raj, Nazmizan Muhammad, Zafril Zuslaini and Mohd Robani Hassan.
“During the session, we took into account the views of former athletes in formulating strategic collaborations with stakeholders such as the National Sports Council and relevant government agencies,” he said.
Karim also urged stakeholders with proposals to improve athletics in Malaysia to channel their views through proper and appropriate channels, and cautioned against allowing political influences to interfere with sports development.
He added that MA’s secretariat is currently finalising plans for elite athletes’ training programmes and international competition participation throughout the year.
Among the key events lined up are the 2026 Asian Throwing Championships in Mokpo, South Korea (May 2–3), the 13th Michitaka Kinami Memorial Athletics Meet in Osaka, Japan (May 10), and the Seiko Golden Grand Prix at Tokyo National Stadium, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series.
“This participation reflects Malaysian Athletics’ continued commitment to providing international competitive exposure for athletes,” he said.
Karim also warned against calls for his resignation, saying such actions could disrupt harmony within the sport.
“Those calling for my removal may have hidden agendas, which I believe will eventually be revealed,” he added. – April 24, 2026