KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia cannot expect to produce Olympic and world champions while continuing to underinvest in the people and systems responsible for developing them, senior sports analyst Sadek Mustaffa said, arguing that weightlifting’s historic Commonwealth Games success should prompt a rethink of the country’s sports funding priorities.
Pointing to the national team’s record-breaking haul of five gold, one silver and one bronze medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Sadek said the achievement had shattered the perception that only traditional “elite” sports could deliver international success.
“As the saying goes, you give peanuts, you get monkeys. If we want world-class athletes, Olympic champions and world champions, we must be prepared to invest properly in the people responsible for producing them.
“We cannot expect championship results while offering minimal resources,” the UiTM sports science lecturer told Scoop.
Sadek stressed that his remarks extended beyond athlete funding, encompassing coaches’ welfare and the long-term investment needed to build a sustainable development system.
“Weightlifting coaches deserve to be recognised at the highest level because producing athletes capable of winning five gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal at a major multi-sport Games is no small achievement.
“Behind every medal is a coach who has spent years refining an athlete’s technique, developing their physical capabilities, strengthening their mental resilience and preparing them to perform under immense pressure. Their contributions deserve to be recognised and rewarded.”
He said weightlifting’s resurgence should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers to expand investment beyond sports that traditionally receive the lion’s share of funding.
“The sport is like a sleeping dragon that has finally awakened after years of being overlooked. It was pushed into the shadows following past doping cases involving some athletes, which resulted in the federation’s suspension.
“This Commonwealth Games campaign has shown that sports outside the country’s traditional priorities are equally capable of delivering gold medals when given the right support, structure and investment.”
Sadek believes the sport is well positioned to build on its momentum, particularly with a promising crop of young lifters emerging through the ranks.
“They deserve greater backing, especially through increased funding for grassroots and state-level development programmes. We already have athletes with enormous potential, and it is our responsibility to ensure they continue progressing.
“Three of the five Commonwealth Games gold medallists are under the age of 25. That is a clear indication Malaysia has a strong pipeline of talent capable of challenging for honours at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics if we continue investing in them.”
While acknowledging that established sports such as badminton should continue receiving support based on their needs and performance, Sadek said weightlifting required greater investment to build a stronger ecosystem from the grassroots level.
“Sports like badminton already have a mature ecosystem, with regular international competitions and structured development pathways. Weightlifting is still building that ecosystem.
“The current allocation of just over RM3 million is encouraging, but it is insufficient if Malaysia is serious about producing Olympic and world champions. We need stronger grassroots programmes, better talent identification and sustained long-term investment.”
Beyond funding, Sadek said the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) must continue strengthening its governance to ensure the sport’s recent success translates into sustained excellence.
“The federation must continue improving its governance at both the state and national levels. The right people, with the necessary qualifications, experience and commitment, must lead the sport while ensuring it continues to meet the standards expected by the National Sports Council (NSC) and the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).
“This success cannot become a one-off achievement. It must mark the beginning of a new era for Malaysian weightlifting and lay the foundation for producing future Olympic and world champions.”
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) has renewed its call for the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) and NSC to improve the welfare of state-level weightlifting coaches, highlighting low salaries and the absence of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions despite their crucial role in developing national athletes.
Following the team’s historic Commonwealth Games campaign, MWF has also requested an annual RM1 million allocation from KBS to strengthen athlete development and sustain the sport’s momentum.
The proposal has received backing from the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), with president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria saying the federation had justified the request through its results and deserved greater investment as one of Malaysia’s most consistent medal contributors. – August 5, 2026