KUALA LUMPUR — National discus thrower Muhammad Irfan Shamsuddin has claimed he received threats and intimidation from top officials within Malaysia Athletics (MA) following his public remarks after winning bronze at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.
Speaking at a press conference today, Irfan said the incident occurred shortly after his return to Malaysia earlier this month.
He alleged that several senior figures from MA attempted to pressure him into following certain directives—including who he should or should not publicly thank.
“Today, I am officially raising serious concerns about the ongoing intimidation targeted at me. These actions have affected my sense of safety, mental wellbeing, and ability to perform as a national athlete,” Irfan said.
He claimed that MA president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim repeatedly called him to express dissatisfaction with his post-event comments to the media, in which Irfan had thanked his coach, the National Sports Council (NSC), the National Sports Institute (NSI), and several individuals who had supported him.
“I received repeated phone calls from the MA president demanding that I should not acknowledge certain individuals. He insisted I should thank only NSC and MA,” Irfan alleged.
“He also said my future participation in competitions might be in doubt unless I complied with these instructions.”
Irfan further claimed that MA had made it clear he would not be allowed to compete in any events, even if he secured his own funding.
The six-time SEA Games gold medallist described the situation as a form of coercion that was unprofessional and a violation of an athlete’s basic rights to speak freely and compete on merit.
“I have endured several troubling incidents involving threats and pressure from MA officials. This is no longer just a personal issue—it touches on fairness, dignity, and the fundamental rights of all athletes,” he said.
Irfan confirmed that he has filed an official complaint with Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, the NSC, and World Athletics. He urged for a full investigation into MA’s leadership. — June 13, 2025